Tunnel boring for Laos-China railway expected in coming weeks

The boring of tunnels for the Laos-China railway is expected to begin in the next few weeks following a groundbreaking ceremony to kick off construction of the project in December last year. The tunnel entrances have been earmarked and concreted in preparation for boring, the project coordinator for Luang Namtha province, Mr Chanthachone Keolakhone, said on March 20. The boring machines are being installed and it’s expected that boring will get underway soon, he told Vientiane Times . The clearance of unexploded ordnance along the 17km railway route through the province is almost finished and only an area inside a cemetery remains to be examined. Villagers have asked to conduct a ritual ceremony to relocate the cemetery before UXO removal continues, Mr Chanthachone said.

Keep reading