Posta Bahadur Bogati tunnel project in limbo

Representative Image

BAGMATI, NOVEMBER 21 :A Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared by the Bagmati Province government, designating the Posta Bahadur Bogati Tunnel as a pride project, has been shelved.

The DPR for the Bhimphedi-Kulekhani section tunnel was completed at a cost of Rs 10 million during the tenure of then-Chief Minister Dormani Poudel. However, the project has stalled due to political instability.

“The budget was allocated in the fiscal year 2076/77 B.S. to study the tunnel and initiate the project,” said Jyanendra Prasad Pun, an engineer at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure under the Bagmati Province government. Pun added, “As per the government’s decision, the tunnel study was completed in the fiscal year 2077/78 B.S., and a project office was also set up for its implementation. However, progress stopped following a change in government during the contract awarding phase.”

Bagmati Province Chief Minister Bahadur Singh Lama acknowledged the challenges, noting that the project had advanced without first securing financial resources. “The tunnel is not as straightforward as other projects—it requires significant investment,” he stated. “An objective calculation of the construction costs is essential, along with securing the necessary funding sources.”

He further mentioned that efforts are ongoing to construct the tunnel through a joint investment from both the federal and provincial governments.