Er.energyNP@Gmail.com

The long-awaited Nagdhunga Tunnel - completed around a year ago but delayed due to operational hurdles - is finally set to enter its trial phase from the second week of May.

According to Project Chief and Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Saujanya Nepal, the tunnel will begin trial operation from the second week of May, while commercial operation is expected to start from the third week of July. Preparations are already underway to meet the operational timeline.

During the trial phase, vehicles will be allowed to pass without paying toll charges. However, toll collection will begin once commercial operations officially start.

The operation and management of the tunnel have been handed over to a Chinese-Nepali joint venture company, Yusin-ART JV, selected through a competitive bidding process. Yusin Managing Director Ram Chandra Timilsina said around 150 staff will be deployed for operations, including four Chinese technical experts with prior tunnel management experience.

He added that the company has partnered with a Chinese firm to ensure smooth operations, while preparations are moving ahead at full pace. Equipment handover from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is currently underway and is expected to be completed within the coming weeks.

According to officials, the technical handover process will be completed within 90 days as per the agreement, paving the way for full commercial operation from the third week of July.

The company has committed to generating Rs 1.10 billion in revenue for the government over five years through toll collection.

Although the government had initially planned to open the tunnel on January 1, 2026, the launch was repeatedly postponed due to delays in selecting the operator and finalizing operational procedures.

Officials said the approval of the Tunnel Operation and Management guideline in Ashoj also contributed to the delay.

Once operational, the tunnel is expected to significantly ease traffic congestion at Nagdhunga and Thankot, reducing travel time to around 30 minutes. It will also shorten the route by about 2.5 km, cutting the distance between Balambu and Sisnekhola from 7.5 km to 5 km.

Officials said the operator will also be responsible for critical systems, including oxygen supply, fire safety, security, communication, and electricity management.

As Nepal’s first tunnel of this scale, authorities acknowledge that delays were partly due to the lack of legal and operational frameworks but say the experience will help streamline future projects.

By Bhuwan Sharma