Nagdhunga-Sisnekhola tunnel inaugurated

KATHMANDU: The Nagdhunga‑Sisnekhola Tunnel was formally inaugurated on Monday, officials said.

Minister for Infrastructure Development Sunil Lamsal, Japan’s Ambassador to Nepal Toru Maeda and President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Akihiko Tanaka jointly opened the 2,688‑metre road tunnel, the first of its kind in Nepal.

JICA President Akihiko Tanaka said the Nagdhunga‑Sisnekhola Tunnel Project 'is "a historic and transformative achievement in Nepal’s transport development journey" and marks the start of a new chapter in Nepal‑Japan cooperation.' He added that a new technical cooperation project has been launched to build capacity in tunnel planning, construction, operation and maintenance, and that the recently approved initiative would broaden collaboration on tunnel infrastructure.

Ambassador Toru Maeda said the tunnel was completed with support from the Japanese government’s Official Development Assistance and the efforts of Nepali technical personnel and workers. He thanked those involved and said the transfer of technical knowledge, skills and high safety standards through the project would be important for Nepal’s future tunnel and infrastructure work. He said the primary aim of the collaboration is to enable Nepal to operate and maintain tunnels independently in years to come.

Gopal Prasad Sigdel, Secretary at the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, said the Nagdhunga checkpoint has long been the western gateway to the Kathmandu Valley but was notorious for heavy congestion and a hazardous stretch of road. He said the tunnel’s operation will significantly reduce travel time and ease longstanding traffic and safety problems, and that Japanese and Nepali engineers had worked closely to overcome topographical and technical challenges.

Construction of the project, for which the contract was signed on November 14, 2019, suffered delays owing to contractor issues, the Covid 19 pandemic and local obstructions. Although the original completion date was April 26, 2023, the construction period was most recently extended until October 25, 2025.

The government published a notice in the Nepal Gazette on April 9, 2026, setting tolls for vehicles using the tunnel. The fees are: Rs 65 for cars, vans, pickups, tractors, microbuses and other light vehicles entering Kathmandu and Rs 60 for exiting; Rs 125 entry and Rs 80 exit for minibuses and mini‑trucks; Rs 260 entry and Rs 200 exit for buses and single rear‑axle trucks; and Rs 600 entry and Rs 250 exit for multi‑axle trucks and heavy equipment.

Authorities said the Nagdhunga‑Sisnekhola Tunnel is expected to cut travel time along the Kathmandu‑Naubise road section and contribute to safer, more convenient and sustainable road transport management.

By RSS