Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City has handed over the management of the historic Churiyamai Tunnel to the Churiyamai Temple and Tunnel Conservation and Management Committee.
The decision aims to make the conservation, operation, and management of the tunnel more effective, according to the city’s spokesperson, Savin Nyoupane.
The city has transferred the responsibility to the committee with the goal of promoting the participation of the local community in the long-term conservation of the historic site, promoting tourism, and contributing to local economic activities.
Tunnel’s History
The Churiyamai Tunnel, considered the first tunnel in South Asia, was built during the reign of then-Rana Prime Minister Chandra Shumsher, starting in 1872 BS and completing in 1874 BS.
The tunnel was constructed under the then-Hetauda-Amlekhganj railway project, with the technical leadership of then-Chief Engineer of the Road Department, Dilli Jung Thapa.
Conservation Efforts
After being unused for a long time, the tunnel’s conservation and repair were carried out by the Bagmati Province government, which then handed it over to the Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City.
According to the agreement, the committee will be responsible for the tunnel’s conservation, operation, and management, including regular monitoring, cleaning, maintenance, tourist management, and necessary infrastructure operation.
The agreement also states that the committee will not make any changes to the tunnel’s original and historic structure and will maintain its historic character.
If properly promoted, the tunnel is expected to become an important historical and tourist destination in the Makwanpur district.
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