The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport is preparing to allow free vehicle travel on the Nagdhunga Tunnel for ten days during Dashain. According to Transport Secretary Keshav Sharma, the government is making this arrangement to facilitate transportation and conduct a practical test of the tunnel.

“The ministry has prepared a proposal to allow vehicles free passage for about ten days - starting three to four days before the Tika ceremony and lasting two to three days afterward,” Sharma said, “We are discussing the plan with the contractor company and consultants, and a decision is expected in a day or two.”

A ministry official said that the ten-day free trial during Dashain will provide practical knowledge for the operation and management of the tunnel when it is used commercially. After the festival, vehicles will be allowed to use the tunnel commercially with applicable fees.

The ministry plans to operate the Nagdhunga Tunnel commercially starting from the English New Year (January 1, 2026). It is also preparing to issue tenders to the private sector for tunnel operation in the coming days.

According to the Department of Roads, physical progress on the project has reached approximately 95 percent. The target is to complete all remaining work by mid-October. A Cabinet meeting on August 11 approved the operational procedures, including toll collection for vehicles entering the tunnel.

The department said it will collect tolls from vehicle owners electronically using an RFID-based system. Once installed, the system will allow vehicle owners to pay tolls directly through a bank-linked tag affixed to the front windshield.

The Department of Roads is currently preparing to procure service providers for tunnel operation, management, and maintenance. The Ministry of Finance has approved the funding, and the Cabinet has endorsed the procurement guidelines. Draft sample bids have been prepared and are under discussion at the Public Procurement Monitoring Office, and all conditions for cost estimation have been approved.

Once operational, vehicles traveling to and from Kathmandu via the tunnel will no longer face hours-long traffic jams at Thankot or Nagdhunga. Vehicles using the tunnel will cover the same distance in just half an hour.

The tunnel will reduce the distance by 2.5 kilometers. Currently, the route from Balambu to Sisne Khola is 7.5 kilometers; after opening the tunnel, the distance will be limited to five kilometers.

The Cabinet-approved guidelines propose tolls ranging from Rs 50 to Rs 500 for vehicles using the Nagdhunga–Sisneri Tunnel. According to a department official, small four-wheelers and larger vehicles with 12 to 14 wheels will pay tolls before entering the tunnel. Motorcycles and vehicles carrying flammable fuels such as diesel or petrol will not be allowed.

Proposed tolls include Rs 50 for small vehicles, Rs 200 for buses, and up to Rs 500 for large trucks. Vehicles entering and exiting through the tunnel will be charged different rates. The guidelines also specify various operational aspects of vehicle movement, while the company or agency collecting tolls will also handle services like oxygen, fire control, safety, communication, and electricity within the tunnel.

A ministry official said that since this is Nepal’s first tunnel project, drafting the regulations took some time. “We are learning from this experience, and it will be easier for future projects,” the official added.

Construction of the tunnel project began in 2019 and its timeline has been extended twice. The Japanese contractor Hazama–Ando JV is carrying out the construction. The project has received a concessionary loan of Rs 16 billion from JICA, while the Nepal government has spent an additional Rs 9 billion on compensation and related costs.

So far, underpasses, box culverts, and overpasses have been completed. Three bridges providing access to the tunnel are finished, and the flyover (overpass) work is almost complete. The flyover is one-way; only vehicles leaving Kathmandu will use it, while vehicles entering Kathmandu will not.

By Bhuwan Sharma