The Nagdhunga-Sisne Khola Tunnel, Nepal’s first modern tunnel, was inaugurated at a special ceremony on Sunday morning.
The tunnel road was inaugurated in the presence of Infrastructure Development Minister Sunil Lamsal, Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Maeda Toru, and Akihiko Tanaka, president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Following the inauguration, Minister Lamsal, Ambassador Maeda, and JICA President Akihiko drove through the tunnel to formally open it to vehicular traffic.
Vehicles will begin operating through the tunnel within a few days after the tunnel completes full testing. Vehicles using the tunnel during the testing period will not have to pay any fee.
Once regular operations begin on the 2,688-meter-long tunnel road, vehicles will be charged a fixed fee.
According to the Department of Roads, cars and vans will be charged Rs 65 when entering Kathmandu and Rs 60 when leaving Kathmandu. Minibuses, trucks, and tippers will have to pay Rs 115 when entering Kathmandu and Rs 80 when leaving.
Similarly, buses and trucks will be charged Rs 260 when entering Kathmandu and Rs 200 when leaving.
Pedestrians, two-wheelers, and three-wheelers will not be allowed to use the tunnel.
The foundation stone for the tunnel was laid seven years ago by then-prime minister KP Sharma Oli on October 21, 2019.
