Kathmandu. If we look at the history of road construction and development in Nepal, there are various records of road construction starting from the Rana period. According to articles published in various such publications, for the first time. In 1998, vehicles carrying people were brought to Kathmandu Valley. The construction of the first road in the Kathmandu Valley started in the 1980s.

Similarly, the 42-km-long Amlekhgunj-Bhimphedi road will be the first road constructed outside the Kathmandu Valley. Nepal, which has a century-long history of road construction and development, is now entering the tunnel stage for the first time in its history.

Nagdhunga of Kathmandu and Sisnekhola of Dhading will be the first tunnel in the history of road construction and development in Nepal. Current Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli The construction work of the tunnel, which was started by laying the foundation stone on November 1, 2019, has almost been completed.

Under the tunnel way project, there are two routes, the main and the evacuation tunnel, in which vehicles are operated on the main tunnel and the auxiliary tunnel is constructed so that it can be used during emergencies. Under the project, a 2.5 km approach road has been constructed in the eastern section (towards Kathmandu) while the overpass constructed at Balambu under the root is in the final stage.

Similarly, the road side station of Michiniki in the western section (towards Sisnekhola) was supposed to be constructed, but due to lack of land and due to various reasons, the work had to be left in the dark, koirala said. The then Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Krishna Jwala, had carried out the breakthrough of the auxiliary tunnel on August 1, 2080, while the then Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) had done the breakthrough on the main tunnel way on April 1, 2081.

Ramesh Koirala, consultant engineer of Hazma Corporation Japan, said that after six years of taking over the construction work, preparations are being made to complete the construction work and hand it over to the Government of Nepal by the end of October.

According to him, the construction of the tunnel has been completed at a total cost of Rs 22 billion, including 16 billion concessional loan assistance from JICA and about Rs 6 billion from the Government of Nepal. A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Monday has also fixed the troll tax for the use of the tunnel, which is about 3.45 km from Sisnekhola to Nagdhunga.

The tunnel, which has made 93 per cent physical progress so far, is preparing to be made operational by January-January. The government is preparing to give the responsibility of operating this tunnel to a private company through open competition. After the operation of this tunnel way, it will be able to reach Naubise from Thankot in 10 minutes. This road will save at least 30 minutes of travel time from Nagdhunga.

Cc cameras have been installed every 150 to 200 meters including the use of new technology, installation of various instruments in the tunnel, control room for information about traffic situation in the tunnel, and 15 jet fans have been used to filter harmful gases emitted from vehicles and to maintain the flow of oxygen in the tunnel. ।

Photo: Prakash Chandra Timilsinar Nepal Photo Library