Although preparations are underway to invite bids to select a service provider to operate the tunnel, the heavy rains of last October have added to the problem by causing a landslide near the tunnel entrance towards Dhading.
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It will take time for the Nagdhunga-Sisnekhola tunnel to become operational. The tunnel was scheduled to be operational from the start of the English New Year 2026.
The Road Department has stated that there will be some delay due to the time it takes to select the operating body and to construct the toll plaza after the landslide towards Dhading. Preparations are underway to call for bids to select the service provider to operate the tunnel.
The project director of the Nagdhunga Tunnel Construction Project, Saujanya Nepal, said that preparations are underway to issue a notice within this week for the selection of the service provider. The rains last September have added to the problem by causing a landslide near the tunnel entrance towards Dhading.
‘Due to the landslide in front of the tunnel entrance towards Dhading, three toll plazas could not be constructed,’ Nepal said. ‘A Japanese consultant is currently designing how to prevent landslides.’
Nepal said that the work on landslide prevention and the selection of the service provider will be carried out simultaneously. ‘Even if the tunnel is not fully operational on January 1, we will carry out testing work,’ he said. The time to start operation will be in Magh, said Vijay Jaisi, Director General of the department. "The toll plaza and radio frequency identification (RFID) gate are being constructed, and landslide management work is also underway towards Dhading," he said, "so the date has not been set for when it will be operational."
Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Kulman Ghising is urging the department to complete the tunnel work as soon as possible and bring vehicles into operation. The department clarified that work is being done accordingly. The government has already set a fee for vehicles using the tunnel. The Cabinet meeting held on August 26 on the proposal of Road Board Nepal has approved the implementation of the fee.
Accordingly, cars and vans will be charged Rs 65 for entering Kathmandu and Rs 60 for exiting. The project estimates that around 859 such vehicles will enter and 646 will exit daily. Similarly, a fee of Rs 115 for entering Kathmandu and Rs 80 for exiting Kathmandu has been set. The project says that 540 of these vehicles will enter the valley daily and 406 will exit.
Buses and trucks will have to pay a toll of Rs 260 when entering Kathmandu through the tunnel and Rs 200 when exiting through the same route. The project office estimates that 794 such vehicles will enter and 597 will exit daily. Large trucks and heavy vehicles (lorries) will have to pay a toll of Rs 600 when entering the valley and Rs 250 when exiting through the tunnel. The project estimates that 596 of these vehicles will enter and 448 will exit daily.
The Nagdhunga-Sisne Khola Tunnel Transport Operation Directive, 2081, was also issued on Chaitra 25. According to the directive, after the tunnel is operational, pedestrians, two-wheelers, three-wheelers and non-motorized vehicles will not be allowed to enter the tunnel. Vehicles carrying highly flammable substances and explosives including diesel, petrol, gas will also be prohibited from the tunnel.
Although its construction began on Kartik 4, 2076, claiming that it would be completed within 42 months, the project claims that the project has been delayed due to Covid and repeated obstacles from locals. The main tunnel is 2,688 meters long and the emergency tunnel is 2,557 meters long. The total contract amount of the project is 22 billion rupees. This includes 16 billion rupees in concessional loans from Japan and 6 billion rupees in investment from the Government of Nepal. The contract for the construction of the tunnel has been awarded to the Japanese company Hazma Endo Corporation.
