The completion of the SLBC tunnel project has been delayed, with the new deadline now pushed back by at least a year, moving beyond January 2028.

The delay comes as the government is still finalizing the details of an escrow account needed for contractor payments. Excavation of the remaining 9.6 km section of the tunnel, which was scheduled to resume this month, will also see an increase in the total tunneling distance by about one km. This includes a collapsed section on the inlet side, which occurred in February 2025. Work will now begin from both the inlet and outlet sides using the drill-and-blast method. Excavation is expected to proceed at an average rate of 300 meters per month, with round-the-clock work. 

“With work continuing around the clock, we aim to finish this project, though it will take more time,” an official working on the project said.