With the country developing tunnels and underground space for the development of infrastructures, KU has initiated the construction of the KU tunnel with the ground breaking ceremony held on Bhadra 07, 2078 (August 23, 2021). The ceremony was performed by the Dean of School of Engineering, Dr. Manish Pokharel along with Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Bhola Thapa and Registrar Prof. Dr. Subodh Sharma. The construction of the tunnel is aimed to motivate more research and development works in the field of tunnel and underground construction.
This construction is initiated as a part of the project ‘Technical Investigation of Tunnel Support Technology in Hydropower Tunnels in the Himalayan Region of Nepal’ (PID: ENEP-RENP-II-18-02) supported by Energize Nepal, Kathmandu University. The project is an undertaking of Department of Civil Engineering, Kathmandu University along with partners Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway; Seoul National University, South Korea and Hydro Tunnelling and Research Pvt. Ltd., Nepal.
The construction of tunnel was conceived during 2014 where the survey for alignment of the tunnel was performed and the entrance of the portal was also constructed (the findings of the survey can be found here). This ground breaking ceremony initiated the beginning of the construction of the 230m tunnel with a cavern of dimension (20*7*7) m2. The tunnel passes through weak and fractured grey colored micaceous meta-sandstone intercalated with the phyllite. The construction of tunnel provides opportunity for study in the field of shallow ground tunneling, slope stability and tunneling in weak grounds. It allows collaboration with international and national organizations and institutes and the findings will aid construction in the Himalayan region. Due to lack of research in the Himalayan geology, it has become essential to look in the field for sustainable development of infrastructures in the country.
Details of the project can be found here.