Construction of the Siddhababa Tunnel, one of Nepal’s national pride projects, is progressing rapidly, with physical progress reaching 57.51 percent and financial progress at 51.1 percent, according to the project office.
The tunnel is being constructed along the Siddhartha Highway at the Dobhan area located in Tinau Rural Municipality–3 of Palpa district. According to project engineer Sabita Gyawali, the construction work gained momentum after the successful breakthrough of the tunnel.
So far, 1,089 meters of the tunnel’s invert (base slab) has been completed, while 834 meters of side wall lining has also been finished. Currently, lining work is underway on an additional 292 meters inside the tunnel, she said.
The tunnel includes three bypasses—measuring 151 meters, 161 meters, and 130 meters respectively. In the first bypass, 145 meters of invert and 124 meters of lining work have been completed. Similarly, in the third bypass, 125 meters of invert and 30 meters of lining work have been finished.
The main tunnel will be a two-lane structure, measuring 1,089 meters in length, 10.5 meters in width, and approximately 7 meters in height. Once the invert and lining works are completed, installation of lighting, communication, and safety systems will begin within a month or two, said Project Chief Krishnaraj Adhikari.
He added that the tunnel is now functional enough to allow the movement of essential construction vehicles. The project has been under regular monitoring by local representatives, security agencies, and other stakeholders.
During a recent site visit, Member of Parliament Thakur Prasad Gaire emphasized the need for coordinated efforts to complete the project on schedule, urging elected officials to extend their support.
Construction of the 1,126-meter tunnel began in 2022 near the upper Siddhababa temple, along the Butwal–Tansen section of the Siddhartha Highway. The main tunnel breakthrough has already been completed.
China State Construction Engineering Corporation is building the tunnel under a contract worth Rs 7.34 billion, with the goal of completing the project by 2026.
The tunnel was planned to address recurring landslides along the lower Siddhababa temple to Dobhan section of the highway—an area highly prone to landslides even during dry seasons. According to engineer Gyawali, this route is vital for transportation between Gulmi, Palpa, Arghakhanchi, Syangja, Pokhara, Baglung, and Myagdi. -- RSS
