STORY: Chinese contractor achieves breakthrough of last tunnel of Nepal's major fast-track package 2 project
SHOOTING TIME: Aug. 5, 2024
DATELINE: Aug. 6, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:10
LOCATION: Kathmandu
CATEGORY: SOCIETY/POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the tunnel
2. various of a breakthrough ceremony held at the construction site in Makwanpur district
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Nepali): KP SHARMA OLI, Nepali Prime Minister
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): CHEN SONG, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal
5. various of the group photo
6. various of the tunnel

STORYLINE:

The last tunnel was broken through on Monday for the package 2 project contracted by a Chinese company under the Kathmandu-Terai/Madhesh fast track project, which Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli described as an "important milestone" toward achieving Nepal's development goals.

After the prime minister pressed the button, the final blast was detonated to break through the last section of the Dhedre left tunnel.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Nepali): KP SHARMA OLI, Nepali Prime Minister
"Witnessing the breakthrough of yet another tunnel is a matter of happiness."

The Dhedre tunnel and the Lanedanda tunnel are part of the package 2 project under the fast track project, which also involves the construction of two large bridges, among others.

In May 2021, Poly Changda Engineering Co., Ltd. of China signed a contracting agreement with the Nepal Army over the package 2 project, which has a total length of 4.62 km.

Both tunnels consist of a left and a right tunnel, with Lanedanda's two tunnels completed in May and July, and Dhedre's right tunnel broken through in May.

Addressing the breakthrough ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song spoke of the introduction of advanced automated tunnel construction equipment.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): CHEN SONG, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal
"In terms of technological innovation and construction management, advanced automated tunnel construction equipment, such as three-arm rock drilling jumbo machines and wet spraying robotic arms, has been introduced."

"Large-scale mold flipping construction of high-pier bridges in mountainous areas and cantilever casting of traveling formwork and other advanced technologies have been used for the first time in Nepal," he said.

Chen voiced hope that under the guidance of the leaders and with unremitting and joint efforts of the governments, private sectors and the people, the pragmatic cooperation between China and Nepal will "continue to achieve new fruits."

"This project is an example of model development works in terms of the use of new technologies and technology transfer," Oli said. "We have a vision for a prosperous, developed and poverty-free country. This project is an important milestone toward achieving these goals."

After the Kathmandu-Terai/Madhesh expressway project is completed, a two-way and four-lane first-class highway shall link Kathmandu, the capital city, with the Terai plains, the key grain-producing and densely-populated region of Nepal.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Kathmandu.
(XHTV)