January 16: It has been more than three years since the construction of Nagadhunga Tunnel started with the target of completing the project within 42 months. With less than half of the budget spent, the Department of Roads claims that about 27 per cent of the construction work of the project is remaining. The department has started preparations for its operational management. According to the department, 73.30 per cent of the construction of the tunnel has been completed.

The department is planning to entrust the operation of the tunnel for a year to the Japanese construction company Hamza/Ando Corporation, which was awarded the contract to build the tunnel with grant assistance from the Government of Japan. The department said that they will hand over the management to a Japanese company for a year to prepare the necessary manpower for the operation of the tunnel.

Arjun Jung Thapa, director general of the department, said that after the construction of the tunnel accelerated, the department discussed the operational issues with representatives of Hazma Ando.

"Once the tunnel is ready, they will operate it, and they will provide training to the Nepalese during the initial period," Thapa said, "After the tunnel comes into operation, it will require human resources in three shifts.”

For this, 54 people will take training within a year. There will be two control rooms in the under-construction tunnel. The control rooms will be located at Tutepakha in Nagadhunga on the east side of the tunnel and Sisnekhola in Dhading on the west side.

A dedicated team is needed to watch ambulances, fire brigade, and CCTV.

Thapa said that up to 18 personnel including watchmen will be needed in the tunnel on both sides in one shift and they will be trained by the Japanese team for a year. According to him, the Japanese team will provide training on surveillance and security issues through CCTV during this period.

The department will prepare the Nepali group required for the tunnel operation. According to him, the Japanese company has proposed to keep manpower in three shifts, including traffic police, equipment operators, and ambulance drivers.

Out of the estimated budget of Rs 22 billion for the tunnel, the project has so far spent Rs 10 billion.

The compensation for the locals affected by the project has not been released yet.

"In the current fiscal year, the Ministry of Finance did not release the budget for compensation," said Thapa, "For compensation towards Balambu, we need Rs 25 million, and the rest is about Rs 30 million for Sisnekhola."

He informed New Business Age that the project has not yet received compensation from the Ministry of Finance.

The foundation stone of the tunnel was laid by the then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in October, 2019. As per the initial agreement, the project was supposed to be completed by April 2023. However, the extended deadline of the project is mid-August 2023 due to the delay in the work due to covid-19 and land acquisition.

According to Thapa, it will take more than two months to build a flyover, install security equipment and arrange lights inside the tunnel. "The tunnel will be operational by next Dashain," said Thapa.

An agreement was reached between the Government of Nepal and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in 2016 to construct the tunnel. The total cost of the tunnel is estimated to be around Rs 22 billion, of which JICA will bear Rs 16 billion and the Government of Nepal will bear Rs 6 billion. The total length of the tunnel is projected to be 5.7 km.