Nagadhunga tunnel was pierced in 53 months

The then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had laid the foundation stone of the tunnel on October 4, 2076 at Tutipakha towards Kathmandu, so that the tunnel could be completed within 42 months. But due to the covid epidemic and repeated local obstacles, the tunnel was delayed by almost a year. Now its finishing work will be done, the project said. Navinman Shrestha, Head of Nagadhunga Tunnel Marg Project, said that if there are no problems or obstacles, vehicles can be operated through the tunnel within a year. "Now lighting, oxygen connection, road slope work will be done inside the tunnel," he said, "The plan is to operate vehicles through the tunnel in May 2082."

After the tunnel is operational, it is said that it will be possible to travel from Thankot in Kathmandu to Sisnekhola in Dhading within three minutes. According to the project, the time will be reduced by 33 minutes when coming towards Kathmandu and 23 minutes when leaving Kathmandu. The distance of the main tunnel is 2.688 km and the distance of the emergency tunnel is 2.557 km. The emergency tunnel has been 'break through' on July 22.

is currently undergoing its finishing work. The main tunnel was scheduled to break through on February 23. When 14 meters were left to be dug, the locals put forward new/old demands including drinking water, irrigation and stopped the work towards Dhading and Kathmandu for a month. Due to which the work of tunneling was affected. The work was restarted after a month of stalling after an agreement was reached with the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport to address the demands of the locals.

While doing the 'break through' of the tunnel, Prime Minister Dahal said that the construction of the tunnel route should be prioritized based on the geographical structure of Nepal. He said that the Nagadhunga tunnel route will be a new document suitable for Nepalese soil in infrastructure development. He said that the Sunkoshi Marine Diversion Irrigation Project tunnel is also preparing to break through soon. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Raghuveer Mahaseth, former Minister, MP, Secretary, Japanese Ambassador Yutaka Kikuta and others were present in the program. Physical Minister Mahaseth said that the tunnel will help in smooth operation of transportation. Ambassador Kikuta said that the tunnel is a project of pride for Japan and Nepal.

According to the project, the tunnel was worked around the clock by making 8/8 hour shifts. The tunnel was constructed by adopting the 'Drill and Blast Method'. Seven gates leading from the main tunnel to the emergency tunnel have been constructed. Govind Dumru, deputy project director of the project, said that an emergency tunnel has been built to quickly exit the main tunnel in case something happens inside the tunnel. Since

, the construction of the flyover towards Balambu is going on in full swing. Three bridges and six culverts have been constructed. The 2.307 km two-lane road from Balambu to Tutipakha, the entrance to the tunnel, is black. A 565 meter access road will be constructed towards Sisne river in Dhading. Now, about 10,000 vehicles, small and large, pass through Nagadhunga every day. However, vehicles carrying petroleum products, motorcycles and overloaded vehicles will not be allowed to use the tunnel. The tunnel route will be monitored by CC cameras. The construction of the tunnel was done by the Japanese company Hazma Endo Corporation.

In this project, which is contracted for 22 billion rupees, there is a loan of 16.5 billion rupees from Japan. The Government of Nepal has invested 6 billion rupees in this. After the initial contract of the project was not completed by 2080 Baisakh, the deadline was extended to 081 Baisakh 13. But since it cannot be completed in the said period, there is a preparation to add another year.

Sushilbabu Dhakal, director general of road department, said that this is Nepal's first transport tunnel. "The tunnel has been constructed as an alternative because there is a lot of traffic jam in Nagadhunga," he said. Ready to break through. After frequent landslides and accidents started to increase in this road section, the tunnel was started as an alternative. Similarly, 6 tunnels are being constructed on the Kathmandu Terai/Madhesh expressway (fast track). While 3 tunnels are under construction, three more tunnels are under contract process.