Nepal Inaugurates Its First Tunnel Road To Improve Transport Connectivity

Nepal officially entered the era of tunnel roads on Monday with the inauguration of the Nagdhunga-Sisneri Tunnel, the country's first road tunnel. Minister for Infrastructure Development Sunil Lamsal inaugurated the 2.68-kilometre tunnel on the Prithvi Highway at the western gateway to the Kathmandu Valley during a ceremony attended by government officials and diplomats. Built with concessional loan assistance from the Japanese government, the tunnel is expected to cut travel time to Kathmandu by 20 to 30 minutes by bypassing the winding mountain road at Nagdhunga.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Lamsal described the project as a landmark achievement for Nepal's infrastructure development and announced that more road tunnels would be constructed across the country. He said the experience gained during the construction of the Nagdhunga Tunnel had provided valuable technical lessons that would support future projects. The government is already overseeing the construction of the Siddhababa Tunnel in Palpa district and has initiated feasibility studies for around two dozen additional tunnel projects in different parts of Nepal.

Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Maeda Toru praised the collaboration between the two countries, saying the project combined Japanese engineering expertise with the skills and dedication of Nepali professionals. He noted that nearly 98 percent of the engineers, technicians, and workers involved in the project were Nepali, highlighting their critical contribution to its successful completion. The ambassador also announced a new technical cooperation initiative under which Japan will assist Nepal in strengthening its capabilities in tunnel planning, construction, maintenance, and operations.

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Although the tunnel has been formally inaugurated, authorities have announced a phased opening. During the first 10 days, only emergency vehicles, including ambulances, fire engines, and security force vehicles, will be permitted to use the facility. The tunnel will then undergo a three-month testing phase before being opened to all categories of vehicles. A joint venture comprising China's Yusin and Nepal's ART has been awarded a five-year contract to manage operations, including traffic control, emergency response, maintenance, and toll collection, as Nepal lacks prior experience in operating a toll road tunnel.

Construction of the Nagdhunga Tunnel Project began in October 2019 after then Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli laid its foundation stone. Originally scheduled for completion within 42 months, the project was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, land compensation issues, and disputes with local communities over water supply and other concerns, extending construction to nearly seven years. According to the project office, the tunnel was completed at a cost of approximately 24 billion Nepali rupees and is expected to significantly improve connectivity while setting the stage for Nepal's future tunnel-based transport infrastructure.

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