Kathmandu- Under the leadership of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), construction of the access road for the 1,063 MW Upper Arun Semi-Reservoir Hydropower Project, located in Bhotkhola Rural Municipality of Sankhuwasabha, has begun.
The 21-kilometer access road, connecting the powerhouse to the dam site, is progressing despite the challenging geographical terrain. The road includes a two-kilometer tunnel, which is under construction as part of this effort.
The access road starts at Chongrang, near Golabazar, where the proposed powerhouse will be built, and extends to the dam site near Chepuwa village in Ward No. 2 of Bhotkhola Rural Municipality. The road intersects the Koshi Highway at Chongrang. To ensure connectivity to the project site, a 70-meter-long steel arch bridge is being constructed over the Arun River.
To facilitate the construction of the two-kilometer tunnel connecting Namase in Ward No. 4 and Ruku in Ward No. 2 of Bhotkhola Rural Municipality, heavy equipment and materials—including boomers, JCBs, loaders, robotic shotcrete machines, concrete pumps, and generators—are being transported to the site by helicopters. Given the lack of road access to these areas, over 300 helicopter trips have been completed to transport equipment and materials.
A bunker for storing explosives required for tunneling, along with offices and accommodations for personnel managing these operations, is currently under construction. Once completed, tunneling can proceed simultaneously from both the Namase and Ruku sides.
The track opening for the road from Chongrang to Namase has commenced, while the construction of project offices and staff housing has reached its final stage. Progress was delayed by approximately 18 months due to the time required for approvals related to land use and tree felling in the national forest area.
NEA Managing Director Kulman Ghising, who is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of Upper Arun Hydroelectric Limited, along with the company’s Managing Director, Fadindra raj Joshi, and other team members, conducted an on-site inspection over the weekend. The team held discussions with project management, consultants, contractors, and local stakeholders to assess the progress and ensure coordinated efforts in advancing the project.
Executive Director Ghising expressed optimism about the progress, noting that the ongoing construction of the access road signifies the project’s forward momentum. He emphasized the importance of opening the road track as a priority to facilitate the transportation of construction materials and instructed all parties to enhance coordination and expedite work.
Managing Director Joshi highlighted that with private land acquisition complete and necessary approvals obtained for land use and tree clearance, the project now faces no major hurdles in accelerating road construction.
A contract for the access road construction was signed on February 23, 2023, with a joint venture between Gayatri Projects Limited of India and Nepal’s Kankai International Builders. The contract, valued at NPR 7.91 billion (including provisional sums and taxes), came into effect on May 11, 2023. The project aims to complete the access road by February 2026.
