Army adding more tunnels in Fast Track project

Kathmandu, July 6: The design of the tunnel section under the Kathmandu-Terai/Madhes Fast Track (Expressway) road project is going to be reviewed. 

With the proposal to build three more tunnels on the fast track, there will be some changes in the design, according to the Nepali Army.

The Nepali Army, which is constructing the project, has proposed to build a tunnel instead of a road in three places prone to landslides and due to fragile topography for the longevity of the project, it was said. The landslides occur many times even during the dry season because of the fragile geography of the area, the army said. 

Brigadier General and Spokesperson for the Directorate of Public Relations and Information (DPR&I) of the Nepali Army Headquarters, Krishna Prasad Bhandari, told The Rising Nepal on Wednesday, that the design had to be reviewed as per the recommendation given by the Project's International Consultant Soosung Engineering Company, Korea. The DPR of the project is also prepared by the same Company.  

BG Bhandari said that it was recommended by the Company that three more tunnels have to be built in the project's package No. 10 section. This proposed section stretches some 12 to 14 kilometres of the road which is also known as Ramchandra Steep and Chandram Steep of Makwanpur.

He said that the proposal as suggested by the Soosung Company has been sent to the Ministry of Defence for its final review from the Cabinet.

Once the design gets reviewed, work in the area will begin soon, Director Bhandari said. According to him, three new tunnels of 2.2 km will be added. Of them, one will be 300 metres, and others 900 metres and one kilometer to make 2.2 kilometres, he said.

"Although the tunnel's length will be increased from the previous one, the total cost of the project will not be increased, and the total length of the road section will, however, be decreased," said Bhandari.

The latest cost of the project is now estimated at Rs. 213 billion after the project's tenure is extended till mid-April, 2027.

Tunnel's total length to reach 8 km Currently, three tunnels are being constructed on the fast track project. If the proposed three tunnels are built, the number of tunnels 

will reach six with total distance of 8.6 km. Previous three tunnels cover a distance of 6.41 km which are under construction -- 3.355 km in Mahadevdanda, 1.630 km in Dhedre and 1.430 km in Lendanda --- of Makwanpur district. 

According to the army, 438 metres of tunnels have been excavated in Mahadevdanda so far. China State Construction Engineering Company got its contract at Rs. 21.61 billion.

Similarly, the Chinese construction company Poly Changda has been awarded the contract to excavate 1.630 km tunnels in Dhedre and 1.430 km tunnel in Lendanda. 

The cost of these two tunnels is Rs. 28.53 billion.

Similarly, the Nepali Army has said that the International Competitive Biddings called on April 21, and 23 for the tunnel and road construction are under final evaluation process at present for the reward of the project under package no. 8 (A) and 9 (A) and package no. 9 (B).