Banking News – The Nagdhunga Tunnel, inaugurated a month ago, has been opened for private vehicles starting Monday. Private vehicles including cars, jeeps, and vans with passenger capacity of up to 9 people have been allowed to commute between Kathmandu and Dhading through the tunnel from Monday. Since the inauguration, only emergency vehicles were permitted to use the tunnel.

Kabiraj Shrestha, Deputy Chief of the Nagdhunga Tunnel Security Unit, informed that from 9:00 AM Monday, private vehicles with up to 9 seats, along with emergency vehicles, ambulances, and government-registered vehicles, have been allowed to use the tunnel. These vehicles have been allowed entry into the tunnel on a trial basis for a specified period. Preparations are underway to gradually open the tunnel to other vehicles as well.

“We have started operations for trial purposes. We will analyze this week. We will understand the problems faced by drivers while driving and their experiences,” he said. Shrestha stated that private vehicles will not be charged any fee for now. According to him, the tunnel will operate from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. He also informed that the road at Gurjudhara flyover was also opened from this morning.

Specific rules have been set for driving inside the tunnel, including not exceeding 40 kilometers per hour, turning on headlights, not stopping inside the tunnel, and not overtaking. Shrestha informed that internal preparations are underway for regular tunnel operations, including security units, toll collection units, and monitoring of activities inside the tunnel through CCTV.

The country’s first systematic transportation tunnel, built at a cost of approximately Rs 29 arab, was inaugurated on July 27, seven years after its groundbreaking. The tunnel was inaugurated by Minister for Infrastructure Development Sunil Lamsal in the presence of Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Maeda Toru and JICA President Dr. Tanaka Akihiko. The foundation stone was laid by former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on October 20, 2019. As per the initial agreement, construction was to be completed in 42 months. Delays were caused by factors including COVID-19 and compensation disputes.

The “rescue tunnel” breakthrough was achieved on November 8, 2023, about four years after the foundation laying. The main tunnel breakthrough was achieved ten months after the rescue tunnel breakthrough, with then Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) performing the breakthrough on June 18, 2024. The main tunnel is 2.68 kilometers long, with an additional 2.557-kilometer emergency tunnel. Pedestrians, two-wheelers, and vehicles carrying diesel, petrol, and other flammable substances are not permitted inside the tunnel.

The tunnel will not be free permanently. After regular operations begin, cars and vans will have to pay Rs 65 for entering Kathmandu and Rs 60 for exiting. Minibuses and tippers will pay Rs 115 for entering and Rs 80 for exiting. Buses and trucks will pay Rs 260 for entering and Rs 200 for exiting. Additionally, heavy trucks will pay Rs 600 for entering and Rs 250 for exiting, as set by the government. The tunnel construction was agreed upon with an investment of Rs 16.5 arab from the Government of Japan and Rs 6 arab from the Government of Nepal. However, costs increased after the construction phase began. Japan subsequently added an additional Rs 5 arab in loan assistance. The construction contract for the project was awarded to Japan’s Hazama Ando Corporation.