As Nepal's maiden road tunnel construction project, the completion of the Nagdhunga-Sisnekhola tunnel will set a precedent and pave the way for future advancements in tunnel road infrastructure across the country.

 NewBiz Report

"Today marks Nepal's entry into the 'tunnel age'," Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said, addressing an event organised to commemorate the breakthrough of the long-awaited 2.6-kilometer Nagdhunga-Sisnekhola tunnel on April 15. This breakthrough, achieved through controlled explosives clearing the last two metres of the main tunnel, signifies not only the success of this project but also Nepal's stride towards advancing its road tunnel infrastructure.

The Nagdhunga-Sisnekhola tunnel connects Dhading, located at its lower terminus, to Nagdhunga in Kathmandu at its higher elevation. Upon its inauguration, commuters travelling the Nagdhunga-Naubise section of the Tribhuvan Highway will be able to bypass an 8-kilometre stretch of the road section.

As Nepal's maiden road tunnel construction project with technology transfer from Japan, the successful completion and commercial operation of the Nagdhunga-Sisnekhola tunnel will set a precedent and pave the way for future advancements in tunnel road infrastructure across the country. Nepal is currently in the initial phases of tunnel road development. Interest in such projects has significantly increased following the laying of the foundation stone for the Nagdhunga-Sisnekhola tunnel, prompting successive governments to display greater enthusiasm for similar initiatives. The federal budget has announced feasibility studies for approximately two dozen tunnel roads, with many of them included in the budgetary program primarily due to political pressure or interest.

Currently, only two tunnel projects—the Nagdhunga-Sisnekhola tunnel and the Siddhababa tunnel—are in the construction phase. The Department of Roads is conducting studies for the remaining proposed tunnel projects. The Nagdhunga-Sisnekhola tunnel project's construction was made possible through funding from the Japanese government via the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as part of Official Development Assistance (ODA). Out of the project's total budget of Rs 22.14 billion, Nepal is contributing Rs 5.85 billion, while JICA is covering the remaining Rs 16.5 billion through lending.

In 2016, the Japanese government approved a soft loan to facilitate the construction of the tunnel. Executed by the Japanese firm Hazama-Ando Corporation, the tunnel eliminates the need to traverse the circuitous route over the Valley's western rim, which serves as the primary overland connection between the capital and the southern plains. The foundation stone for the Rs 22 billion project was laid by the then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in October 2019.

Originally scheduled for completion within three-and-a-half years from its commencement, the project faced delays mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the scarcity of construction materials. The tunnel is expected to come into operation after a year. The government initiated the construction of the Siddhababa Tunnel in the second week of January 2024. The tunnel passageway is being built on the Butwal-Palpa section on the Siddhartha which is prone to landslides and stone slides.

The China State Construction Engineering Corporation secured the project contract under the EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) model in March 2022. The construction period is five years.

In addition to these two tunnel projects, the government is mulling over building nearly two dozen tunnel passage ways nationwide. The majority of these tunnels and related projects are in the study phase. A budget of Rs 1.94 billion has been allocated in fiscal year 2023/24 under the Tunnel Road Development Program. In the previous fiscal year, the government allocated Rs 1.06 billion for the study of 27 tunnel roads. The Nagdhunga-Sisnekhola, Tokha-Chhahare and Siddhababa are the priority tunnel projects of the current fiscal year. According to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure, Rs 1.25 billion out of the total budget of Rs 1.94 billion under the Tunnel Road Development Program has been allocated for the Tokha-Chhahare tunnel project. This budget has been earmarked for the study and construction of the project in the upcoming year. However, the detailed project report (DPR) and the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for the Tokha-Chhahare road are still pending.

The government has allocated Rs 450 million for the Siddhababa Tunnel Road Project in the current fiscal year. On the other hand, the Dharan-Leuti tunnel road project has been assigned a budget of Rs 5 million. The DoR has completed the feasibility study for tunnels along the Dharan-Leuti section and the BP Nagar-Khutia-Dipayal section. The feasibility study for the Sunmai Rajdubol Tunnel has been completed. Moreover, detailed feasibility studies for the Shaktikhor-Majhimtar and the Bardaghat-Dumkibas road tunnels have also been finalised.

Furthermore, ongoing feasibility studies include the tunnel from Chorepatan of Pokhara to Gudikhola of Syangja. Additionally, feasibility studies for a tunnel along the Rara Highway connecting Jajarkot and Jumla, as well as the Baglung-Beu-Narethathi Road Tunnel, are currently in progress. According to DoR officials, the construction cost of tunnel roads is significantly higher compared to double-lane roads. "The cost of building a normal double-lane road averages between Rs 60-100 million per kilometre. Additionally, even after construction, the operational costs of tunnel roads remain high," said Ram Hari Pokhrel, deputy director general of the DoR.

Although tunnel roads can reduce the overall length of the route, officials emphasise the necessity for thorough study, particularly focusing on cost-benefit analysis, before implementing such projects.