KATHMANDU, Dec 22: The Government of Japan has decided to provide Rs 15.288 billion in loan assistance (16.636 billion Japanese Yen) to the Nepal government to implement the Nagdhunga Tunnel Construction Project on Thursday.

The loan agreement has been signed and exchanged between chief representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Jun Sakuma and Chief of International Economic Cooperation Coordination Division of the Ministry of Finance, Baikuntha Aryal at the event organized at the Ministry of Finance, Japanese Embassy said in a statement today.

Meanwhile, Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Masashi Ogawa and Shanta Raj Subedi, Secretary at the Ministry of Finance have signed and exchanged a set of exchange of notes on the behalf of their respective governments.

“This project will be instrumental to further strengthening economic activities. The infrastructure being constructed will be yet another cornerstone in enhancing the friendly relation between the people of the two countries,” Japanese Embassy said in a statement today.

Under this loan assistance, JICA will purchase the products and service necessary to construct 5.05 km of tunnel road stretches from Baad Bhanjyang, Kathmandu to Sisnekhola, Dhading district. 

The 2.45-km-long tunnel will two-lane and 2.20 km (Kathmandu side) and 0.40km (Dhading Side) will be approach roads. 

Likewise, the construction of toll facility, control office and distribution line of 4.1 kilometers are the other components of the project. Plaza area, rest room, restaurant, shops, parking space will also be developed, utilizing a flat land made by disposal of tunnel excavation materials.

The construction of tunnel road is expected to reduce travel time between Nagdhunga and Naubise significantly, thereby contributing to smooth transportation network between Kathmandu and other major cities of the country Nepal as the Nagdhunga pass connects Kathmandu with major cities like Narayangadh, Pokhara along with the East-West Highway.

 Various facilities like fire detector, CCTV camera, evacuation tunnel door, emergency parking bay, lighting, loud speaker equipment and visibility index meter, among other infrastructures, will also be built in the tunnel for safe operation.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Ramesh Lekhak, among  others, were present at the event.

 
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