The government has planned to work on a dozen tunnel projects in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2024/25. According to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, some projects are in the final stages, while others are in the feasibility study and preliminary preparation stages.
As a result, the budget for tunnels has been reduced compared to the current fiscal year 2023/24. According to the ministry, 14 tunnel projects have been included in the budget for the upcoming year, with a total allocation of Rs 81.14 million. This amount is less than half of the budget allocated in the current fiscal year.
In the current fiscal year, Rs 1.94 billion were allocated for 23 tunnel projects. The ministry has not included projects that had budgets allocated for feasibility studies and preliminary preparations in the past but have not yet secured sources for construction.
Therefore, the number of tunnel projects in the budget for the upcoming year is lower. Notable tunnel projects that have not been included in the budget are Tokha-Chhahare Tunnel, Pravas-Jorte, and Baglung-Byu-Narethati Tunnel.
Underpasses and flyovers in the Valley
The budget includes a plan to build an underpass at New Baneshwor. This project was also included in the current fiscal year’s budget, with Rs 1 million allocated for the current year and Rs 900,000 for the upcoming year, limited to preliminary preparation work.
The construction of the Gwarko-Satdobato-Ekantakuna flyover is in full swing. This project received an allocation of Rs 120 million in the current fiscal year and Rs 81 million for the upcoming fiscal year. Although the project was planned to be completed within the current fiscal year, it has not been completed yet. The estimated total cost of this project is Rs 170.6 million.
Rapid Work at Siddhababa
Despite the long delay after the contract was awarded, the construction of the Siddhababa Tunnel on the Siddhartha Highway has gained momentum. This project has received the highest budget allocation. In the upcoming fiscal year, Rs 658.1 million have been allocated for Siddhababa alone, compared to Rs 450 million in the current fiscal year.
According to the latest updates, 166 meters of the Siddhababa Tunnel have been excavated, with a total length of 1,136 meters. 76.12 meters have been excavated from the north and 90.16 meters from the south. The physical progress of the tunnel is at 12.63 per cent, with financial progress at 17.5 per cent.
Among the projects where feasibility studies have been completed, the Dharan-Leuti Tunnel has received Rs 5 million for the upcoming fiscal year. This tunnel received the same amount in the current fiscal year and is likely to remain at a formal stage next year. The feasibility study estimated that the cost of this 4 km long tunnel would exceed Rs 10 billion. The government has yet to prioritise this tunnel.
Tunnels in the study phase
The government is studying various tunnel routes on different road sections across the country. The Dumkibas-Bardaghat Tunnel is included in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, with an allocation of Rs 2.5 million. This project was allocated Rs 10 million in the current fiscal year’s budget.
The Hemja-Nayapul section road tunnel has also received Rs 2.5 million for the upcoming fiscal year, compared to Rs 10 million this year. The Majhimtar-Shaktikhor Tunnel has been allocated Rs 1.2 million in the upcoming budget, while it received Rs 4.5 million in the current fiscal year.
The Babai-Chhinchu Tunnel project, currently in the study phase, has received Rs 1.5 million in the upcoming budget, compared to Rs 1 million in the current fiscal year. The Bipinagar-Khutiya Tunnel has been allocated Rs 400,000, compared to Rs 1 million in the current fiscal year. The plan to study the Furshekhola Chhorepatan to Syangja Gudi Tunnel has also been included in the budget, with an allocation of Rs 2.5 million.
In the current fiscal year, this project received Rs 4 million. The detailed project report preparation plan for the Rara Highway’s Kushe Patan (Jajarkot Byaudhunga and Jumla Imilcha Khola Tunnel) has been included in the upcoming budget, with an allocation of Rs 1 million.
This project received Rs 4 million in the current fiscal year. The Lumbini Rara Tourist Highway’s Tulsipur Luham Tunnel has received Rs 2.5 million for the upcoming year, compared to Rs 2 million in the current fiscal year.
Projects not included in the upcoming budget
Several tunnel projects in the current fiscal year’s budget have not been included in the upcoming year’s budget. According to the ministry, the Pandini Gaunpalika to Durga Phat Tunnel route has not been included in the upcoming budget.
The Tokha-Chhahare Tunnel, which received an allocation of Rs 1.25 billion in the current fiscal year and was given high priority by former Finance Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat, has not received any budget this year.
The Jajarkot-Byaudhunga Tunnel has also not been included in this year’s budget. The Besishahar-Nalmu Besi Tunnel, Sunmai-Rajdubol Tunnel, Godavari-Manchur Tunnel, Tathali-Ravi OP Tunnel, and Pravas-Jorte Tunnel have also not been included in the upcoming budget.
The ministry has allocated Rs 4 million for the tunnel route development programme and Rs 1.23 million for the feasibility study of various proposed tunnel routes.
Tunnel routes and allocated budget in the current fiscal year
- Siddhababa Tunnel: Rs 658.1 million
- Gwarko-Satdobato-Ekantakuna Flyover: Rs 81 million
- Tunnel Route Development Program: Rs 4 million
- Proposed Tunnel Route Feasibility Study: Rs 1.23 million
- Dharan-Leuti: Rs 5 million
- Tulsipur-Luham: Rs 2.5 million
- Chhorepatan-Gudi Tunnel: Rs 2.5 million
- Hemja-Naya Pul: Rs 2.5 million
- Dumkibas-Bardaghat: Rs 2.5 million
- Babai-Chhinchu: Rs 1.5 million
- Majhimtar-Shaktikhor: Rs 1.2 million
- Kushe Patan Tunnel: Rs 1 million
- New Baneshwor Underpass: Rs 900,000
- Bipinagar-Khutiya: Rs 400,000
