Flood destroys equipment, pushing back Siddhababa tunnel opening
Summary
Floods have washed away electromechanical equipment for the Siddhababa tunnel, delaying its opening by at least a month and pushing the target to mid-December. The dangerous Siddhartha Highway stretch in Palpa will remain exposed to rockfalls and heavy-rain risks until the tunnel becomes operational.
Key Points
- Floodwaters swept away equipment needed to operate the Siddhababa tunnel, forcing the contractor to replace it and bring it in through the Korala border.
- The project now expects traffic to start using the main tunnel by mid-December if installation of ventilation and electrical systems is completed on time.
- A recent rockfall near Bypass Tunnel 1 injured two passengers, highlighting the ongoing danger on the Siddhababa section of the Siddhartha Highway.
- The tunnel project is about 95 percent complete on the main tunnel, but several related road, retaining wall, and rock-shed works remain unfinished.
