Plan to build a tunnel from Jajarkot to Jumla terminated

BY RAJANI YOGI,Bulbule, Nov. 27: A plan to construct a tunnel connecting Jajarkot to Jumla has been terminated due to the long distance and high cost.

Earlier, a pre-feasibility study was conducted for the tunnel route. The study revealed that further work would not be suitable. The tunnel between Jajarkot and Jumla covers a distance of 10 kilometres. 

According to the Quality and Research Centre, the long distance and high cost have made it difficult to move forward with the project. Engineer Pradeep Bhandari from the Centre said that no further steps would be proceeded. He said that the pre-feasibility study estimated an initial cost of Rs. 29 billion. Since the expected returns do not justify the cost, further processes would not move forward, he added.

The government has directed that tunnel projects over long distances should not move forward. Since the costs are high and the returns are minimal, the study concluded that the project should not proceed ahead. The pre-feasibility study conducted a year ago showed that the project was not viable. The study for the tunnel construction began in May/June 2023 and a plan for constructing the tunnel was proposed in 2021. 

Chaurjahari Road Division Office in Rukum West had even identified suitable locations and prepared the necessary files at that time, but only a basic study had been conducted. he proposed tunnel was approximately 10 kilometre long from Jajarkot’s Sangta to Jumla’s Imilchaghari. The project was initiated to promote tourism. 

The pre-feasibility study has been completed. It aimed to connect Sangta in Kushesh Rural Municipality-8 of Jajarkot to Imilchaghari in Tatopani Rural Municipality-8 of Jumla. 

The tunnel was expected to create a shorter circuit connecting Lumbini, Dang, Salyan, Jajarkot and Jumla to Rara Lake. 

The tunnel project was presented as a prestigious initiative, but the study has shown that it is not suitable for implementation. 

Despite being considered a viable option in terms of distance and trade, the project will not proceed due to the long distance.

The Jajarkot-Jumla tunnel was intended to shorten travel distances, save fuel and provide safety in areas with difficult terrain and the risk of landslides. 

However, the initial study showed that the project was not feasible. 

Former Member of Parliament and Maoist leader Naresh Bhandari said that while the distance was long, the project should still move forward in phases. 

He expressed his intention to inform the government again about this matter. According to him, even though the long distance is a problem, it may be possible to reduce the distance and proceed with the work.