Nepal, July 28 -- The Siddhababa Tunnel along the Butwal-Palpa section of the Siddhartha Highway is targeted for trial operation by mid-November, but with only 70 percent of the project completed so far, questions remain over whether the deadline can be met.

The tunnel is being constructed in the Upper Siddhababa area to provide a safer alternative through one of the most landslide-prone sections of the highway. The project office says road construction and other civil works inside the tunnel have been completed, while several key electromechanical and safety installations are still pending.

Project Chief Nawaraj Bastola said around 70 percent of the overall work had been completed and that trial operation could begin by mid-November i...