In Brief:

• Private vehicles up to nine seats allowed in Nagdhunga tunnel from Monday
• Trial operation runs 9am–6pm, free of charge for now
• Strict rules: 40 kmph speed limit, headlights on, no stopping or overtaking
• Tunnel built at Rs29B cost with Japanese and Nepali financing, inaugurated July 27

KATHMANDU, AUGUST 24 Private motorists can now use Nepal's first modern road tunnel, with cars, jeeps and vans carrying up to nine passengers allowed through the 2.68-km Nagdhunga tunnel from Monday. The tunnel, inaugurated about a month ago, had initially been restricted to emergency vehicles. From 9:00am Monday, private vehicles with up to nine seats, along with ambulances and government vehicles, were allowed to use the tunnel on a trial basis. Deputy chief of the Nagdhunga Tunnel Road Security Unit, Kaviraj Shrestha, said the trial will be used to assess motorists' experiences and identify any problems before the facility is opened to additional categories of vehicles. 'We have brought it into operation for testing. We will analyse it this week and find out what problems drivers faced and what their experiences were,' he said. For now, private vehicles can use the tunnel free of charge, with operations scheduled from 9:00am to 6:00pm. The road through the Gurjudhara flyover was also opened from Monday morning. Strict rules apply inside the tunnel: vehicles must maintain a speed of no more than 40 kmph, keep headlights on, and are prohibited from stopping or overtaking. Pedestrians, two-wheelers and vehicles carrying inflammable materials, including petrol and diesel, are not allowed. Authorities are preparing for regular operation by setting up security and toll-collection units and monitoring activities inside the tunnel through CCTV cameras. The tunnel was built at a cost of about Rs 29 billion and is the country's first organised road tunnel. Its main tunnel is 2.68 km long, while the emergency rescue tunnel extends 2.557 km. The project was inaugurated on July 27, about seven years after then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli laid its foundation stone on November 20, 2019. Construction was delayed by factors including the Covid-19 pandemic and compensation disputes. The rescue tunnel was broken through in August 2023, followed by the breakthrough of the main tunnel in June 2024. Once regular operations begin, the government has set toll rates ranging from Rs 60 to Rs 600, depending on vehicle type and direction of travel. Cars and vans will pay Rs 65 when entering Kathmandu and Rs 60 when exiting. The project was undertaken with Japanese and Nepali government financing. Japan initially committed Rs 16.5 billion in assistance, while the Nepal government pledged Rs 6 billion; Japan later provided an additional Rs 5 billion in loan assistance after project costs increased. Construction was carried out by Hazama Ando Corporation of Japan.