Developer may not meet target: Govt officials

Amid delay in the construction of the Kathmandu- Hetauda Tunnel Highway, government officials have said the developer will find it hard to achieve the target of completing 25 percent of the earthwork and the construction of the retaining structure and culverts by December 2013. The deadline for the work is mentioned in the agreement between the developer — Nepal Purbadhar Bikas Company Limited (NPBCL) — and the government in May. The company plans to start the construction from November 11. As it is yet to acquire approval for the design of pavements, tunnels and bridges from the government, the officials said the delay in immediate approval of the design may push the planned construction date further away. Without the design approval, the company cannot start the construction, according to the agreement. After the company submits the design plan, the government should either approve or disapprove it within 21 days. “The ministry will issue the approval for the construction only after verifying the design,” said Tulasi Prasad Situala, secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT). NPBCL President Kush Kumar Joshi said they would seek approval for the design very soon. “We have planned to start the construction work from an access road connecting the tunnel portal area which dœs not need design approval first from the government,” he said. As per the agreement, the company has to submit the project completion schedule for necessary review while submitting the design. The tunnel highway, which links the Capital with Hetauda within an hour’s drive, is targeted for completion by December 2016. The 58- km four-lane highway will have three tunnels. MoPIT officials said the company will have to complete 40 percent work on bridges and retaining wall by September 2014, 75 percent of the earthwork, retaining wall and culverts by 2014- end and 33 percent of the tunnel by February 2015. kathmandu-hetauda tunnel highway A computer-generated graphic of the KTM-Hetauda Tunnel Highway.