Man Carves Tunnel for 14 Years to Park Near House

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

A man in India has proved that nothing’s impossible, not when you have the willpower and the right equipment. Frustrated with a hilly range that blocked easy access to his home, Ramchandra Das, a villager from Kewati, eastern Bihar, slugged away at the rocky mountain for 14 years creating a small tunnel.

The tunnel, measuring 10 m in length and 4 m width, finally enabled Das to park his truck by his home.

Prior to this, there was no convenient way for him to drive his vehicle to his house.

Losing the truck to thieves was a constant fear for him and such limitations heightened this worry.

“I could not park my truck near my house since the mountain blocked my path. I had to leave my truck miles away, so I decided to do something about it myself,”

Das was not the only one who complained about the mountain. Given the rocky terrain and poor road infrastructure, other villagers also had trouble traveling back home from surrounding fields.

Before the handy tunnel was carved out, visiting the nearby amenities and locations ended up being a 7 km journey for these villagers.

All of them had brought up this issue with the relevant authorities.

However, when the powers that be refused help in this matter, Das decided to rise to the occasion.

The resulting tunnel has now been welcomed by locals and authorities. To this effect, it is the favored mode of transportation for villagers.

Authorities have also been quite vocal in their support for Das.

“We rarely come across a man who can work so hard to achieve his goal,” was the comment by a local government official called Prabhat Kumar Jha.

http://www.weirdasianews.com/2009/12/07/ma...ars-park-house/

[Ban Hammer 13,716]

now he needs to set up a toll booth.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

The man has gumption.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Can you dig it?

Edited December 18, 2009 by Nagishkaw

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

I really admire that.

Most people would sit around and complain that the government wasn't doing anything for them etc. He probably complained, sure, but took it upon himself to rectify the situation.

Score one for the prime movers.

[scandal 951]

So the tunnel was hacked out of the hillside. No engineering studies, no inspections, no permits, no insurance.

The first big monsoon rains, the tunnel collapses and crushes everyone inside.

Thanks, but no thanks. I'll take my "big government' approach to civil engineering projects any day.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

The Shawshank Redemption must be his favorite movie.

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

Thanks, but no thanks. I'll take my "big government' approach to civil engineering projects any day.

Given that he spent fourteen years on the thing, I don't think ANY big government approach was forthcoming.

Good on him for taking the initiative.

[alienlovechild 75]

So the tunnel was hacked out of the hillside. No engineering studies, no inspections, no permits, no insurance.

The first big monsoon rains, the tunnel collapses and crushes everyone inside.

Thanks, but no thanks. I'll take my "big government' approach to civil engineering projects any day.

Monsoons are yearly occurence and it hasn't collapsed the tunnel in 14 years. The local government has praised his actions so the safety concerns (if any) are outweighed by the utility of the tunnel for the locals. India has a lot of people and she'd a bigger power if there were more people like Mr. Das taking the initiative. I've seen plenty of transportation projects in this country studied to death and nothing happens because it simply costs too much to design, buy right of way and pay for construction.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

So the tunnel was hacked out of the hillside. No engineering studies, no inspections, no permits, no insurance.

The first big monsoon rains, the tunnel collapses and crushes everyone inside.

Thanks, but no thanks. I'll take my "big government' approach to civil engineering projects any day.

Monsoons are yearly occurence and it hasn't collapsed the tunnel in 14 years. The local government has praised his actions so the safety concerns (if any) are outweighed by the utility of the tunnel for the locals. India has a lot of people and she'd a bigger power if there were more people like Mr. Das taking the initiative. I've seen plenty of transportation projects in this country studied to death and nothing happens because it simply costs too much to design, buy right of way and pay for construction.

The fact that one of India's premier industrial houses (Ambanis, sarkily termed "Bimbanis") has been much-criticised by competitors for a similar approach (starting the project, THEN getting the permit) is an endorsement for Das' actions.

Thanks, but no thanks. I'll take my "big government' approach to civil engineering projects any day.

Given that he spent fourteen years on the thing, I don't think ANY big government approach was forthcoming.

Good on him for taking the initiative.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Monsoons are yearly occurence and it hasn't collapsed the tunnel in 14 years. The local government has praised his actions so the safety concerns (if any) are outweighed by the utility of the tunnel for the locals. India has a lot of people and she'd a bigger power if there were more people like Mr. Das taking the initiative. I've seen plenty of transportation projects in this country studied to death and nothing happens because it simply costs too much to design, buy right of way and pay for construction.

nj transit's website has a list of projects they're "studying"... most of them have been in that state for years and the phase that seems to always drag on forever is environmental impact studies

[Pinay Wife 47]

Man can truly move mountains.

[thongd4me 69]

Has the makings of another

Dad, are we there yet? made-for-TV movie

[zqt3344 21]

Wonder if he is related to the Viet Kong!

A man in India has proved that nothing’s impossible, not when you have the willpower and the right equipment. Frustrated with a hilly range that blocked easy access to his home, Ramchandra Das, a villager from Kewati, eastern Bihar, slugged away at the rocky mountain for 14 years creating a small tunnel.

The tunnel, measuring 10 m in length and 4 m width, finally enabled Das to park his truck by his home.

Prior to this, there was no convenient way for him to drive his vehicle to his house.

Losing the truck to thieves was a constant fear for him and such limitations heightened this worry.

“I could not park my truck near my house since the mountain blocked my path. I had to leave my truck miles away, so I decided to do something about it myself,”

Das was not the only one who complained about the mountain. Given the rocky terrain and poor road infrastructure, other villagers also had trouble traveling back home from surrounding fields.

Before the handy tunnel was carved out, visiting the nearby amenities and locations ended up being a 7 km journey for these villagers.

All of them had brought up this issue with the relevant authorities.

However, when the powers that be refused help in this matter, Das decided to rise to the occasion.

The resulting tunnel has now been welcomed by locals and authorities. To this effect, it is the favored mode of transportation for villagers.

Authorities have also been quite vocal in their support for Das.

“We rarely come across a man who can work so hard to achieve his goal,” was the comment by a local government official called Prabhat Kumar Jha.

http://www.weirdasianews.com/2009/12/07/ma...ars-park-house/

Edited December 20, 2009 by zqt3344

[thongd4me 69]

Wonder if he is related to the Viet Kong!

His widowed mom used to do their laundry,

but she married a banker and found better "digs."

When she wouldn't shut up he locked her in the vault.

She had to tunnel her way outta there.

Edited December 20, 2009 by thongd4me