The breakthrough of the Siddhababa tunnel on the Siddhartha Highway in Palpa has been scheduled for January 15. Although excavation is expected to conclude by then, a small portion will be left for the formal ceremony.

The 1,126-metre-long tunnel includes three cross passages designed as emergency exits, enabling evacuation in case of issues inside the tunnel. The cross passages, spanning a total length of 441 metres, have already been completed.

Only 48 metres of excavation for the main tunnel remains, said Prabhat Kumar Jha, director of the Quality Research and Development Centre under the Department of Roads.

“If no issues arise, the breakthrough will be achieved as scheduled,” Jha said.

Authorities had earlier planned the breakthrough for the first week of January but later rescheduled it for January 15.

The tunnel starts near Siddhababa Temple and exits near the Tinau Hydropower site in Palpa. It was initiated to provide a safer alternative to the four-kilometre landslide-prone stretch of the highway, notorious for frequent accidents.

Over the past decade, at least 421 lives have been lost and many others injured in numerous accidents on this section, according to the District Traffic Office, Palpa. The section, which sees more than 10,000 vehicles daily, has long been considered one of the most dangerous stretches of the highway.

The tunnel construction contract, valued at Rs7.34 billion, was awarded to China State Construction Engineering Corporation in March 2022, with a completion deadline of February 2027. However, delays caused by tree-cutting and other issues have led the contractor to request a nine-month extension, which is yet to be approved.

The Siddhababa-Dovan section serves as a vital link connecting more than a dozen districts across the plains and hills, including Palpa, Gulmi, Arghakhanchi, Syangja, Kaski, Parbat, and Baglung.

The tunnel is expected to ensure safer and smoother travel along the highway, benefiting districts in Lumbini and Gandaki provinces.