68 percent of the work on the 1,116-meter-long tunnel under construction in the Dobhan Siddhababa area of Tinau Rural Municipality-3, Palpa, under the Siddhartha Highway has been completed.
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The road construction work inside the main tunnel under the under-construction tunnel has been completed in the Dobhan Siddhababa area of Tinau Rural Municipality-3, Palpa under the Siddhartha Highway. With the completion of all the work on the construction of the 1,126-meter road of the main tunnel, the physical progress of the tunnel has been 69.25 percent by the last week of Ashad. The financial progress has been 63.55 percent, according to the project office.
Project Office Chief Nawaraj Bastola informed that work is underway with the goal of bringing the main tunnel of the Siddhababa Tunnel into operation by Asoj. The width of the tunnel is 10.5 meters and the height is about 7 meters. Chief Bastola said that the work has progressed as per the approval received to make 'rigid pavement' on the access road being constructed along the tunnel.
After the operation of traffic from inside the tunnel, 'rockshed' and cliff protection work will be carried out in the risky areas outside. A safe path will be built inside the 'rockshed' for pedestrians. The work of the 19-meter portal on the north side and the 18-meter portal on the south side has been completed. Project Chief Bastola said that the construction of structures inside the tunnel, access road and security arrangements have been taken forward simultaneously. He said that the work of installing lighting, ventilation, fans and other equipment has been completed after completing the secondary lining and invert of the tunnel. He said that work is underway to complete the design, civil work, tunnel operation and project.
After the construction is completed, the concerned construction company will be responsible for the operation, maintenance and security of the tunnel for 5 years. The next 5 years will be a 'latent defect liability period'. The contract for this tunnel has been awarded under the 'Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC)' model. Under this 'model', the entire responsibility for 'design', approval and construction will be with the construction company, said the project chief Bastola.
Chinese construction company China State Construction Engineering Corporation has won the contract for 7.34 billion rupees. The national pride project Siddhababa Tunnel is targeted to be operational by Asoj. 68 percent of the 1,116-meter-long tunnel under construction in Dobhan Siddhababa area of Tinau Rural Municipality-3, Palpa under Siddhartha Highway has been completed.
Its width is 10.5 meters and its height is about 7 meters. Since the infrastructure construction work inside the tunnel has been completed, the remaining work has been accelerated to complete it within Asoj. According to the project, the construction of structures inside the tunnel, access roads and security arrangements are being taken forward simultaneously. The secondary lining and invert work of the tunnel has been completed and the installation of equipment including lights, ventilation, fans has now begun.
Project chief Nawaraj Bastola informed that the work has been accelerated with the goal of operating traffic in the tunnel by Asoj. ‘Work is being carried out at a rapid pace with the goal of bringing the Siddhababa Tunnel into operation by Asoj. The civil work of the main tunnel has been completed and electrification work is underway. Work is being carried out in a hurry to complete the remaining work soon,’ he said.
According to him, the concerned construction company will be responsible for the operation, maintenance and safety of the tunnel for 5 years after the construction is completed. An additional 5 years have been arranged as a ‘latent defect liability period’.
Approval has been received to lay ‘rigid pavement’ on the access road being constructed along the tunnel. The project has stated that there is a plan to carry out 'rockshed' and cliff protection work in the risky areas outside after the operation of traffic from inside the tunnel. A safe path will be constructed inside the 'rockshed' for pedestrians and drinking water management will also be carried out in the outside area.
The contract for this tunnel has been awarded under the 'Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC)' model. Under this 'model', the entire responsibility for 'design', approval and construction will lie with the construction company.
On 25 Falgun 2078, a contract agreement was signed with China State Construction Engineering Corporation to complete the construction work within 5 years. The total cost of this project is 7.34 billion rupees. After that, the company will operate and maintain the tunnel for 1825 days. The project deadline is 9 Falgun 2083. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) had surveyed the area in 2075 BS and prepared a detailed project report (DPR) for this tunnel.
On 2078 BS, the Department of Roads had invited bids internationally and awarded the contract for the construction of the tunnel. Although the construction contract was signed in Falgun 2078 BS, the company started digging the tunnel towards the end of 2079 BS.
The Siddhartha Highway from the lower Siddhababa Temple to Dobhan in Palpa falls under the landslide prone area. After the tunnel is constructed, it will be easy to travel to and from Gulmi, Palpa, Arghakhachi, Syangja, Baglung and other districts. Under the project package, risk reduction work is being done using modern technology on the Chidiakhola-Siddhababa Temple and the road from the northern end of the tunnel to Dobhan. This is the first time in the history of road infrastructure that a 'rockslide' has been constructed in the Siddhababa area. ‘Rockshed’ is a technology to protect vehicles and roads from landslides.
A strong roof in the shape of an RCC slope or steel slope is built over the road at the landslide site. In the ‘rockshed’ constructed in this way, the landslides that have fallen will reach the river or cliff through the roof. This will not affect the vehicles, drivers, passengers and the road. Vehicles will move freely under the roof. Since there are many landslides at both portals of the tunnel, the ‘rockshed’ is initially going to be built along with the portal. The design of the 780-meter-long ‘rockshed’ construction in the Siddhababa area has been progressed.
According to the Planning Office, the strong wire mesh is expected to be able to hold up to 5,000 kg of rocks. The project was agreed to be completed within 5 years in Falgun 2078. After the tunnel is constructed, there will be a safe and reliable travel facility for passengers traveling through the Siddhartha Highway. The Siddhartha Highway, from the lower Siddhababa Temple to Dobhan in Palpa, falls under the area prone to landslides. After the tunnel is constructed, it will be easier to travel to and from Gulmi, Palpa, Arghakhachi, Syangja, Kaski, Parbat, Myagdi, Baglung and other districts.
