Butwal, Jan 24 – The breakthrough of the main Siddhababa Tunnel, a major component of Nepal’s national pride project, is being celebrated today. The 1.126-kilometer-long tunnel, constructed along the Siddhartha Highway between Butwal and Tansen, has successfully pierced through, marking a significant achievement in its construction.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will attend the breakthrough ceremony alongside Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel, Physical Infrastructure Minister Debendra Dahal, and other dignitaries. According to Project Chief Krishna Raj Adhikari, all preparations for the event have been completed.
The Siddhababa Tunnel is being built to address the landslide-prone section of the highway, particularly between the Lower Siddhababa Temple and Dobhan in Palpa. This area experiences frequent landslides, even during the dry season, posing safety risks and disrupting transportation.
Construction of the tunnel began after the Cabinet allocated the budget in 2020. The Department of Roads awarded the contract to China State Construction Engineering Corporation for NPR 7.34 billion, with the project scheduled for completion by 2083 BS. Although the construction agreement was signed in 2022, tunneling work started in late 2023.
The tunnel includes three bypasses for emergency exits: the first, second, and third bypasses, with lengths of 151 meters, 161 meters, and 130 meters, respectively. The first and third bypasses were completed in September and October, while the second was finished on December 21.
The project is expected to facilitate easier travel between Butwal and the hilly districts of Lumbini and Gandaki provinces, including Palpa, Gulmi, Syangja, Baglung, and Parbat. Once operational, it will enhance connectivity and reduce travel time significantly.
The concept of the tunnel emerged after the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) conducted a survey in 2018. The SDC identified 2.7 kilometers of road between Siddhababa and Dobhan as high-risk and recommended the construction of a tunnel, as traditional slope protection measures were deemed unfeasible in the area.
Currently, 150 workers, including skilled and semi-skilled Chinese and Nepali laborers, are engaged in the project. Secondary support work inside the tunnel is underway following the breakthrough.
This milestone brings the nation closer to achieving a safer and more efficient transport network, fulfilling the government’s vision for a nationally significant infrastructure project.
