Melamchi tunnel construction at 900 metres per month

April 3: Around 900-metre of the tunnel of much-awaited Melamchi Drinking Water Project was dug out in the month of March. 

The Italian Company CMC and Indian Company D Revenna won the contract for the tunnel construction on July 2013. Only 15-km tunnel has been so far dug out since the contract was awarded. 

According to Project Executive Director, Ghanashyam Bhattarai, around 900-metre tunnel is being dug out every month by March though the monthly target was 1,200 metres. 

It needs to dig out around 26-km tunnel to bring drinking water to Kathmandu from Melamchi rivulet which means still 11-km tunnel is yet to be dug out to complete the project. 

Though the Italian Company made public commitment to complete the tunnel construction by coming mid-May this year it seems the tunnel construction requires extra one year if the current pace (45 metres a day) is maintained. RSS