Tunnel construction in Dolakha nears completion

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

Charikot, Oct. 31: The construction of tunnel under North-South corridor in Lamabagar of Bigu Rural Municipality-1, Dolakha, is nearing completion. 

Company MV Dugadh Hydropower Pvt. Ltd has been constructing the 160MW project in Lapche Khola, located above the dam of Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project (UTHP), in its own investment. The company informed that the construction work of the tunnel is in final stage. 

So far, 825m track of 1074.18m tunnel has been opened. The construction is likely to complete by mid-December. 

Mem Bahadur Tamang, ward chair of Bigu Rural Municipality-1, informed that after the construction of the tunnel, the road will reach the border crossing with China via Dolakha. This would be the shortest road leading to the border with the northern neighbour. The tunnel has been constructed at the right side of the headwork of the UTHP, he added. The construction of additional 12km road after completing the tunnel works will connect China border Myanglung. 

Because the municipality is not yet connected with road networks, the locals there have been facing a lot of problems. It takes a day to reach Lamabagar from Lumnang and two from Lapchi. The roads remain blocked during rainy season. 

Due to the lack of road infrastructures, five hydropower projects have been halted in the municipality.

After the construction of the tunnel, Lamabagar, the main business port of Kathmandu and Lhasa before Tatopani port could be brought to operation. Though the road connecting Bhittamod of India with Lamabagar is in use, the road connecting Tibet with Lamabagar could not be brought into operation in absence of road network. 

Private companies have started more than six hydropower projects totalling a capacity of over 100 MW in Lapche Khola and Jum Khola. These hydropower projects have been affected due to delay in the construction of the tunnel. At the initiative of MV Dugadh Group, Nasa Hydropower Pvt. Ltd. had landed three excavators by helicopter in Lumnang a year ago for the construction of the road. The construction was affected after the basic requirements like fuel and others could not be transported to the construction sites due to the lack of road. 

After the construction of the tri-national highway connecting China, Nepal and India, it will be possible to travel about 235km from Bhittamod of Indian border to Myanglung of Chinese border.