Kathmandu. Necessary preparations have been started to operate vehicles from the Nagdhunga-Naubise tunnel way from mid-July.

Vehicular movement along the Naubise-Nagdhunga road section is expected to ease with the operation of Nepal’s much-awaited tunnel way. Project Director of Nagdhunga Tunnel Construction Project Saujanya Nepal shared that internal preparation had begun with the aim of bringing the tunnel way into operation by coming August.

“Most of the work inside the tunnel has been completed. Necessary tests are being carried out on how to rescue and manage vehicles in case of any emergency incident occurring inside the tunnel”, he said. ”

The total length of the Nagdhunga-Naubise tunnel is 2,688 metres. As per the initial contract agreement, the project was supposed to be completed by April 26, 2023. The construction of the project has not gained momentum due to dillydallying by the contractor company and obstruction by the locals. According to the project, works related to the operation of the tunnel way and management exercise are being carried out now.

Project Director Nepal claimed that processes related to collecting toll to be paid for the use of the Nagdhunga-Naubise tunnel way, selection of banks and printing of card cards have also been initiated. The project has made arrangements for the payment of documents in three ways from the vehicles plying on the Nagdhunga-Naubise tunnel road. Arrangements have also been made for taking cash from the drivers manually, scanning QR code and reading the stickers to be pasted on the vehicle through a high-capacity camera.

The company has been awarded the responsibility of operating, management and maintenance of the tunnel for five years at a cost of Rs 1.10 billion.

The project director Nepal will have to collect the amount collected from the vehicles using the tunnel and deposit it in the account of the Road Board Nepal. A total of 10 companies had applied for the bidding. The company will operate 24 hours a day in 365 days. “A total of 150 human resources will be deployed for the management and operation of the tunnel way”, he said, adding that 40 employees would be mobilised during afternoon peak hour once the tunnel way would come into operation. Now internal preparations are being carried out inside the tunnel. We have set a target to operate vehicles through the tunnel by completing all kinds of preparations by mid-July.

According to the project, more than eight thousand small and big vehicles except two-wheelers enter and exit the Nagdhunga-Naubisena route on a daily basis. Project Director Nepal said around 60 percent vehicles entering and exiting the Nagdhunga-Naubise road section are expected to use the tunnel way. According to the project, two-wheelers will not be allowed to pass through the tunnel.

Fees for driving vehicles through the tunnel

The government on April 9, 2002 had determined the fees for plying vehicles along the Nagdhunga-Naubise tunnel highway through a notice published in the gazette. The government has fixed separate fees for the vehicles using the tunnel way according to the capacity of the vehicles.

Likewise, cars and vans, pick-ups, tractors, microbuses and other light vehicles will be charged at 65 while vehicles of the same category are priced at Rs 60 when entering Kathmandu from Kathmandu. Similarly, entry fee of minibus, mini-tipper/truck has been fixed at Rs 125 while departing from Kathmandu to Rs 80.

Similarly, Rs 260 has been levied for buses and trucks (single rear axle) to enter Kathmandu. However, Rs 200 has been fixed for the departure of the same vehicle from Kathmandu. The entry fee has been fixed at Rs 600 for multi-axle trucks, vehicles and heavy equipment. Similarly, Rs 250 has been fixed for the same class while departing from Kathmandu.