Palpa, Sept. 23 -- Motorists will have to wait at least another month to use the new Siddhababa tunnel after floods swept away equipment needed to put it into operation.

The contractor must now replace the electromechanical equipment, which was being transported through the Rasuwagadhi border, and bring it in through the Korala border instead. The project is now targeting mid-December for traffic to start using the main tunnel, a month later than originally planned.

The project had been working towards opening the tunnel by mid-November. Project chief Navaraj Bastola said the revised deadline could still be met if the replacement equipment arrives on time and the contractor completes the installation of jet fans, ventilation systems and...