Construction of Nagdhunga-Sisnekhola tunnel way on even during pandemic

Kathmandu - Sanchita Ghimire Works are in progress under the Nagdhunga- Sisnekhola tunnel way project even amidst the restrictions put in place to stem the spread of coronavirus pandemic. This is the first tunnel way in the road infrastructure of the country. Construction works have been continued by keeping the workers in close camp at the construction site. The Japanese construction company, Hazma Aangdo Corporation, is undertaking the construction.

It is carrying on with the construction with the available human resources at present. Nearly 200 workers are at work on the site these days. The Department of Roads has said there is no dearth of human resources for proceeding ahead with the works on the project. The Company had already arranged for the human resources and equipment before the lockdown. The project's physical progress is around four per cent till date since the construction started 10 months back.

The target was to make physical progress of seven to eight per cent. It is said the low progress is because of several problems have been encountered by the project even though the construction itself is not hampered as such. The project had been facing shortage of construction materials until some time back.

Many of the local levels of Dhading district where Sisnekhola is located had prevented the transportation of construction materials like sand and pebbles. Department's Development Assistance Coordination Division chief Arjun Jung Thapa said this problem has now been sorted out in coordination with the local levels concerned. "Although some local levels tried to create obstruction, they have been taken into confidence by explaining the reality and now an environment is created for the unhindered transportation of the construction materials," he said.

Though construction works on tunnel towards Kathmandu have not been completed, works in close camp is underway towards Dhading. Activities to divert Sisnekhola are on, said Chief Thapa. He added that land acquisition task too is being forwarded. Process to provide land compensation for flyover at Balambu has already been forwarded. An agreement was signed with the Company to complete the construction within 42 months.

Chief Thapa said that the agreement was signed between Government of Nepal and Japanese construction Company, Hazma Angdo Corporation to complete the tunnel construction within 42 months of the beginning of the construction works. It has been expected that the traffic jam along Nagdhunga-Naubise road section would be eased once tunnel route comes into operation.