94.5% work completed on Nagdhunga tunnel, set to open for travel after Tihar

KATHMANDU: Construction of the Nagdhunga tunnel, Nepal’s first modern highway tunnel, has reached 94.5 percent completion, with authorities preparing to open it for public use around the Tihar festival if work proceeds on schedule.

The tunnel, located at the western gateway to the Kathmandu Valley, is being built under the Department of Roads with Japanese loan assistance. It is designed to bypass the steep, winding, and accident-prone Nagdhunga section, significantly easing travel in and out of the capital.

According to the department, physical progress on the project stands at 94.5 percent, with remaining works scheduled for completion by mid-October. Following this, test runs and trial operations will be conducted before the tunnel is officially opened for general use.

The government has already approved toll fees for vehicles passing through the tunnel. An electronic toll collection system has been installed, which will allow automatic payment through RFID tags linked to vehicle owners’ bank accounts. The collected fees will fund the tunnel’s maintenance and long-term operation.