Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: International tender has been called for the selection of service provider for the operation and maintenance of the Nagdhunga-Sisnekhola tunnel way.

The Nagdhunga Tunnel Construction Project on Sunday called for tender to select experienced and capable service provider from international competition. The last date for submission of bids is December 17.

Although vehicles can operate through the tunnel, it has not been able to operate due to skilled manpower and security. The length of the main tunnel is 2.7 km and the emergency route is 2.7 km. It is 6 kilometers. The government has fixed the road usage fee (toll) for the vehicles plying through the tunnel route.

The tunnel has a state-of-the-art system but the current workload of the Department of Roads, limited experience and available manpower make it difficult to operate and repair the tunnel. The service provider will operate and repair the tunnel for five years.

During this period, technology will be handed over to Nepali technicians and managers by a sufficient number of foreign experts, and in the future, it will be easier to operate other tunnels, fast tracks and other structures with domestic manpower.

Since the tunnel has to be operated 24 hours a day, emergency service is required in case of accident, fire or system failure. The service provider can arrange to provide timely service as it deploys staff in the shift system and establishes emergency teams. For this, 150 posts have been proposed.

Employees will be led by the chief of tunnel operation and repair. The security management unit will have the maximum number of 64 employees. After that, there will be 54 employees to collect the toll. There will be 14 employees for monitoring and controlling traffic facilities and 8 employees each for the maintenance of civil structures and other structures.