Nagdhunga tunnel to come into operation from mid-May

KATHMANDU: The Nagdhunga–Sisnekhola Tunnel is set to come into operation from mid-May, officials said.

The 2.688-kilometre tunnel project will be brought into service after the government signed an agreement with the selected operating company.

According to officials, a joint venture between a Nepali company ART and Chinese firm Yusin was chosen to operate the tunnel after proposing the lowest bid. The agreement was signed on April 29.

Project Director Saujanya Nepal said the company was selected through financial evaluation and invited for contract signing accordingly.

Under the agreement, the service provider must train manpower and prepare for operations within three months. The physical construction of the tunnel has already reached around 98 percent completion.

“We are now in the final phase of operational preparation following the agreement. In the initial stage, manpower deployed at the site will be trained in areas such as emergency rescue,” Nepal said. “By the time these preparations are completed, it will be mid-May, and the tunnel will come into operation.”

The company will operate and manage the tunnel for five years at a total cost of Rs 1.104 billion. This means the government will pay approximately Rs 220 million annually to the contractor for the service.