KATHMANDU: A promotional “Nagdhunga Tunnel Run and Walk” programme was held today to raise public awareness about the Nagdhunga Tunnel and its benefits. The event was jointly organised by the Department of Roads and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Nepal, with participation from members of the public.
Saujanya Nepal, director of the Nagdhunga Tunnel Construction Project Office, said the programme aimed to familiarise people with the tunnel, its operation and its significance in improving the country’s transport infrastructure.
The main tunnel of the Nagdhunga–Naubise Tunnel Project stretches 2,688 metres. Under the original contract, construction was scheduled for completion by April 26, 2023, but delays by the contractor and local obstructions affected the project’s timeline.
Director Nepal said preparations are underway to bring the tunnel into operation by the end of Shrawan. Once operational, it is expected to significantly ease traffic movement along the Nagdhunga–Naubise road section, the main gateway into and out of Kathmandu.
According to the project office, more than 8,000 small and large vehicles, excluding two-wheelers, travel through the Nagdhunga–Naubise corridor each day. Around 60 percent of those vehicles are expected to use the tunnel.
The project office clarified that two-wheelers will not be allowed inside the tunnel. Authorities expect the tunnel to reduce travel time and improve overall traffic flow on one of Nepal’s busiest highways.
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