April 15: The Nagdhunga-Naubise Tunnel Project made a breakthrough in the construction of the main tunnel passage on Monday. The Nagdhunga Tunnel Passage is considered as a significant project to take Nepal towards an era of tunnel roads.    

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Monday switched on the electric control for the breakthrough of tunnel from both the Dhading and Kathmandu sides. The tunnel connects Sisnekhola of Dhading to Totipakha of Chandragiri municipality-1 in Kathmandu.    

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Raghubir Mahaseth and other government officials were present on the occasion.    

Likewise, federal lawmakers and Province Assembly members were there to witness the breakthrough ceremony.    

According to the project, the tunnel will come into regular operation for traffic after a year. The breakthrough in the evacuation tunnel was undertaken in July-August, 2023.    

However, it will take some time to fix lights, and oxygen pipes and upgrade the road inside the tunnel, said the project officials.

The tunnel is being developed by the Japanese company Hazma Ando Corporation with grant assistance from the Japanese government.    

The total cost of the project is estimated to be around Rs 22 billion. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will invest Rs 16 billion while the Government of Nepal will contribute Rs 6 billion.

The tunnel will be of 2.7 kilometers long and will have two flyovers. The project will also cover 3 kilometers of road.

The Thankot-Naubise road section is currently 9 kilometers long. The distance will be shortened to 5.7 kilometers once the tunnel is constructed. (With  inputs from RSS)