KATHMANDU, Aug 15: The government has formally approved the toll fees for using the Nagdhunga Tunnel Road.
At a press conference organised in Singh Durbar on Thursday, government Spokesperson and Minister for Information and Communication Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung shared the cabinet’s decisions from its August 10 meeting, which included the endorsement of the toll rate guidelines prepared by the Department of Roads.
Under the approved rates, cars and vans entering Kathmandu will pay Rs 65, and those exiting will pay Rs 60. Mini-buses and small trucks will pay Rs 115 when entering the Valley and Rs 80 when leaving. Large buses and heavy trucks will be charged Rs 260 inbound and Rs 200 outbound. For vehicles carrying heavy equipment, the inbound fee is Rs 600 and the outbound fee is Rs 250.
Motorcycles, as well as vehicles transporting diesel, petrol, or other flammable fuels, will not be allowed to enter the tunnel, according to project consultant engineer Ramesh Koirala.
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The Nagdhunga–Sisne Khola Tunnel Road is now in its final preparation stages, with almost all works completed except for minor finishing touches. Senior Division Engineer Sanjay Panthi from the Department of Roads said the tunnel’s construction is more than 92 percent complete. “The contractor’s allotted time will end in November, and by December, the tunnel will be operational,” he stated.
The contractor company has also indicated it will complete all works and hand over the project by mid-October. Currently, vehicle trial runs are ongoing, particularly at the Sisne Khola side. Once operational, the tunnel will eliminate the need for vehicles leaving and entering Kathmandu to be stuck in long traffic queues at Thankot and Nagdhunga.
At 2.6 kilometers long, the tunnel will shorten the Balambu–Sisne Khola route by 2.5 kilometers, reducing the total travel distance from 7.5 km to 5 km. Travel time will be reduced to about half an hour for vehicles passing through the tunnel.
Construction of the tunnel began in 2019 and its deadline has already been extended twice. It is being built by Japanese contractor Hazama–Ando JV. The project is financed by a concessional loan of Rs 16 billion from JICA, with an additional Rs 9 billion from the Government of Nepal for compensation and related costs.
According to the project, associated works such as underpasses, box culverts, and overpasses have been completed. Three bridges at the tunnel’s entry points are ready, and the one-way flyover—usable only for vehicles leaving Kathmandu—is nearly complete. Vehicles entering Kathmandu will not use the flyover.
Passenger safety top priority
Engineer Koirala said that safety arrangements inside the tunnel will be different from those on open roads. In an emergency on an open road, rescue can be carried out from all sides, but inside a tunnel, such flexibility is not possible. If an incident occurs, traffic gets blocked at both ends, preventing passengers from escaping quickly and making rescue operations difficult.
To address this, an evacuation tunnel—also known as a rescue tunnel—has been constructed 30 meters away from the main tunnel. Seven connecting gates allow movement between the main tunnel and the rescue tunnel. Telephone booths and CCTV cameras have been installed, and a control room will monitor incidents in real time. Mobile phone service will also be available inside the tunnel.
In case of emergencies, ambulances and fire engines will be kept on standby at both ends of the tunnel for immediate deployment. Ventilation has been a key focus, as the enclosed environment increases the risk of oxygen depletion. A ventilation system with 15 sets of jet fans has been installed to expel harmful gases from vehicles and draw in fresh air from outside, ensuring safe oxygen levels for passengers and drivers inside the tunnel.
Once operational, the Nagdhunga Tunnel is expected to significantly improve travel efficiency, reduce congestion, and enhance road safety for thousands of vehicles moving in and out of Kathmandu each day.
