The final breakthrough of the Nagdhunga main tunnel

Much anticipated breakthrough of the Nagdhunga Tunnel finally came true today. However, it will take another one year to finally moving the vehicles through the tunnel.

The excavation of the 2,688 m-long main tunnel was successfully completed, according to a press note issued by the Embassy of Japan in Nepal.

Ambassador of Japan to Nepal Kikuta Yutaka, on the occasion, congratulated all the people concerned, both Japanese and Nepalis, in overcoming so many challenges to reach this momentous milestone stating “You are the pride of country.”

The Nagdhunga Tunnel is the very first mountainous traffic road tunnel in Nepal. Worth Rs 22 billion, three-quarters of which is supported by the government of Japan

with highly concessional loans to Nepal, the construction work is contracted to Japanese engineering companies and they are making every effort for the sake of development of Nepal, the press note reads.

When it is finished after remaining interior work such as lining and connecting equipment, the convenience of traffic will be greatly improved, it reads, adding that it will be extremely significant for the promotion of the local economy as well.

The construction of the tunnel commenced in 2019. Digging a tunnel in the Himalayan mountainous region, which is still growing and has intricate strata, is an unimaginably difficult challenge. “The inside of the evacuation and main tunnels were repeatedly hit by unexpected floods and collapses during the extremely difficult excavation work,” it adds. “Outside the tunnels, heavy rain caused landslides on the slope faces and the Covid-19 pandemic delayed the progress.”

The Japanese teams has been working together with Nepali teams to take on technical challenges in the site, based on their experience in the construction of Sindhuli road, known as BP highway, which was also supported by the Government of Japan.

The project provides a unique opportunity to transfer advanced Japanese skills to young Nepali engineers, the press it would surely benefit the Nepali people in the future. “The Embassy of Japan believes that this project will be instrumental for Nepal in achieving sustainable economic development and further deepening of cordial relationship between Japan and Nepal.”

Construction of Nagdhunga-Naubise tunnel road starts

Envisioned since 2014, Nagdhunga-Naubise tunnel road has finally started today, after 7 years.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli laid the foundation stone of the first of its type project in the country that is expected to ease the traffic in and out of the Kathmandu Valley.
Nepal has now entered into the era of tunnel roads, the premier said, urging the project developer to complete the project within the stipulated time. “Though time overrun of projects has remained a historical challenge in Nepal, the experienced Japanese contractor-led project is different,” he said encouraging the Japanese contractor Hazama Ando Corporation to complete the tunnel project on time.
The government signed an agreement with the Japanes firm Hazama Ando Corporation to construct the tunnel on September 23. Hazama Ando Corporation is expected to start the project construction works in a full fledged manner after Tihar. The contractor will have to complete the project within 42 months from September 23, according to the agreement.
The Japanese construction firm Hajma and Ando JV will hand over the tunnel road to the government after three-and-a-half years.
“The government will soon start a slew of tunnel road construction including the Tokha-Khahare and Betrawati-Syafrubesi tunnel projects,” Oli said, adding that the government is committed to developing new infrastructure projects including roads, tunnels and airports and strengthening the existing infrastructure.
The premier, on the occasion, also boosted that more than 1,600 kilometers of roads have been blacktopped this year and those were not single-lane roads. “Roads of such length had never been built in the history of Nepal,” he said, adding that there will be no road problem in Nepal, if construction keeps up in such pace.
Though the construction of the Nagdhunga-Naubise tunnel road was expected to start in March, it was delayed due to issues like site clearance and land compensation. “Though the project has fully acquired the necessary land in Kathmandu but some landowners still need to be paid compensation for 44 ropanis of land in Dhading district,” informed head of the tunnel project Shyam Prasad Kharel. “As of today, the project has disbursed around Rs 4.5 billion in land compensation in Kathmandu and Dhading.”
Ambassador of Japan Masamichi Saigo and the chief representative of JICA Nepal Office Yumiko Asakuma were also present on the occasion.
Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Raghubir Mahaseth informed that the government is planning to complete the detailed project report of at least seven tunnel projects across the country within this fiscal year. Mahaseth said that overhead bridges will soon be constructed in seven places in Valley including Chabahil, Koteshwor, New Baneshwor, Gaushala, Kalimati, Tripureshwor and Thapathali.
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is the development partner of the Nagdhunga-Naubise project and had earlier finalised the evaluation of both the technical and financial proposals that were submitted by the Japanese contractor. JICA is providing loan assistance of $141.41 million (Rs 16 billion) at 0.01 per cent interest rate to the government for the construction of the tunnel project. Estimated to cost around $188.19 million (Rs 22 billion), the government will invest the remaining cost of the project. The government has already allocated Rs 6.27 billion – mostly to be used for land acquisition – be for the project in the budget for the current fiscal year.
The 2.7-km-long double lane Nagdhunga-Naubise tunnel road will connect Sisnekhola and Basnetchhap.

Naghdhunga tunnel road construction to begin from Monday

The government is preparing to lay the foundation stone of the 2.69-km-long Nagdhunga-Naubise tunnel road project on Monday. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is planning to lay foundation stone of the tunnel road that is expected to ease travelling in and out of Kathmandu Valley.
The head of Nagdhunga-Naubise Tunnel Road Project Shyam Prasad Kharel confirmed that the preparatory works for laying the foundation stone has been completed. “The government had signed an agreement with Japanese firm – Hazama Ando Corporation – to construct the tunnel project on September 23,” he said, adding that the Japanese contractor will start the construction works after the foundation stone is laid. “Though the construction was expected to start from March, it was delayed due to various issues related to site clearance and land compensation.”
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is the development partner of the project that has, though, acquired the necessary land in Kathmandu some landowners still need to be paid compensation for land acquired from them in Dhading district.
JICA is providing loan assistance of $141.41 million for the construction of the tunnel project that has an estimated cost hovering around $188.19 million. The remaining cost of the project will be borne by the government. The government has also allocated Rs 6.27 billion for the project in the budget for the current fiscal year.
The government had signed a loan agreement for the construction of Nagdhunga-Naubise tunnel road project with the government of Japan on December 22, 2016.
The Japanese government has extended a loan assistance of 16.63 billion yen (approximately Rs 15.28 billion) to Nepal to implement the project. The assistance was announced during the visit of Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobuo Kishi to Nepal in September 2016.
The project – expected to be complete the project by 2021 – has earlier finalised the evaluation of both the technical and financial proposals that were submitted by the Japanese contractor.

Construction of Thankot-Naubise tunnel road to begin in October

The contract agreement for the construction of the Thankot-Naubise will be signed next month as the government is planning to start the construction from October.
According to the Department of Roads (DoR), the government has accepted the financial and technical proposal of Hajma and Ando JV – a Japanese construction company – for the construction of the tunnel way, connecting Basnet Chhap near Nepal Oil Corporation's (NOC) depot at Thankot and Sisne Khola of Naubise.
“We are now waiting for the agreement paper from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA),” the department said, adding that the agreement between the government and the construction company will be signed after it gets the agreement paper from JICA that has prepared the design of the tunnel way. JICA has publicised the 3D visual design of the tunnel way that will have three lanes, two lanes for vehicular movement and the remaining one to keep vehicles needing maintenance.
Though, the government has set the target to complete and bring the 2.35-km-long tunnel way into operation by 2022, there has been delay from the government side and also the development partner.
Currently, it takes more than two hours to travel from Naubise of Dhading to Nagdhunga of Kathmandu. But with the construction of the tunnel way, the distance can be travelled within seven minutes saving not only time but also money and fuel, with smooth traffic in and out of the Kathmandu valley.
The tunnel way will be connected to the Tribhuvan Highway with a 2.25-km-long access road.
Though the investment is huge, it is cost effective in the long run as Nepal and Japan governments have already signed an agreement regarding the construction of the tunnel way.
The Japanese government has agreed to lend loans at 0.01 per cent interest rate to Nepal for the construction of the tunnel way, according to the department.
The government has allocated Rs 6.27 billion for the next fiscal year to construct the Thankot-Naubise tunnel. As the department had asked for bid for construction of Thankot-Naubise tunnel, it received bids from five companies. Hajma and Ando JV, the Japanese firm, has won the bid at a price Rs 700 million lower than the government estimate. The government has estimated the project to cost Rs 16 billion. The tunnel way – of which detailed project report (DPR) has already been finalized – will affect 267 ropani of land. The government will provide some 33 ropani of land.

Nepal, Japan sign Nagdhunga tunnel deal

The Nepal and Japan today signed an agreement for a loan for the Nagdhunga Tunnel Construction Project that is going to be the first tunnel road in Nepal.
The agreement that will pave the way to start construction of the 2.45-km tunnel road under the Nagdhunga pass has set August 2022 as the target to bring the tunnel into operation.
Finance secretary Shanta Raj Subedi and Japan’s ambassador to Nepal Masashi Ogawa signed the exchange of notes for the project today at the Finance Ministry.
Likewise, a Loan Agreement for the project was also signed by joint secretary and chief of International Economic Cooperation Coordination Division at Finance Ministry Baikuntha Aryal and chief representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Nepal Jun Sakuma, on the sidelines, in the presence of deputy prime minister and finance minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara and physical infrastructure and transport minister Ramesh Lekhak.
Speaking during loan agreement signing ceremony, ambassador Ogawa said that the project is regarded as the 60th anniversary commemoration project and the Japan government considers this project to be a symbolic landmark for the socio-economic development of Nepal and for the deepening relationships between our two countries. He remarked that Japan has many years of experience in developing such tunnel road projects and highly developed tunnel construction technology of Japan will be used in Nagdhunga-Naubise tunnel road project.
Referring to the present condition of this road link, he said that the road conditions of Naubise–Thankot section of the Tribhuvan Highway are very poor and the vehicular movement is slow due to the many sharp curves and steep gradient. Considering the complex geological condition of this stretch, the need for its upgradation or realignment with a better alternative had been felt for long.
According to the agreement, the Japan will provide a loan of 16.636 billion yen – around Rs 15.29 billion – for the construction of the tunnel under the Nagdhunga pass to ease traffic congestion along the Nagdhunga-Naubise section of the Prithvi Highway, the key gateway of the Kathmandu Valley.
According to a statement issued by JICA, the loan amount – under its official development assistance (ODA) – will cover public work on the tunnel, access roads, bridges and other constructions – including improvements, plus consultation services – and also including detailed design-work, bidding assistance, construction supervision, and the strengthening of operations and management capacity.
"The loan agreement is signed with the condition of 40 years repayment and a 10-year grace period with 0.01 per cent annual interest,” according to a press release issued by JICA.
Under the loan agreement, the project will purchase the products and services necessary to construct 5.05-km of tunnel-road that stretches from Baad Bhanjyang, Kathmandu to Sisnekhola, Dhading districts. The 2.45-km of the stretch will be a two-lane tunnel and 2.20-km (Kathmandu side) and 0.40-km (Dhading side) will be approach roads. There will be 2 bridges along the approach roads, according to the agreement.
The tunnel will also have fire detection units, CCTV cameras, evacuation tunnel-doors, emergency parking bays, lighting, loud speaker equipment and visibility-index meters, among other infrastructures for safer operations.
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 project aims at reducing the time it takes vehicles to clear the Nagdhunga Pass to one-third of the current time making the transport of people and goods more efficient, and to contribute to local socioeconomic development. It is also anticipated that this project will significantly improve vehicular movement and, accordingly, travel time and transport expenses for fuel and spare parts will also decrease significantly.
It is said that it will take one-and-a-half years to prepare the detailed project report (DPR) of the project and another three-and-a-half years for the construction. The contractor for the project will be selected under the international competitive bidding. The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport is the executing agency of the project, which is expected to be completed by August 2022.
The assistance programme was announced during the visit of Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobuo Kishi to Nepal – at the ceremony of the 60th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties between Japan and Nepal – this September.
“This project will be instrumental to further strengthening economic activities," Japanese Embassy in Kathmandu said in a statement. "The infrastructure being constructed will be yet another cornerstone in enhancing the friendly relation between the people of the two countries."

जापानले थानकोट सुरुङमार्ग बनाउन सघाउने

जापान सरकारले थानकोटमा सुरुङमार्ग बनाउन सघाउने भएको छ। नेपालका लागि जापानी राजदूत मासासी ओगावाले पत्रकारसँग कुरा गर्दै जापान सरकारले त्रिभुवन राजमार्गमा हालको अव्यवस्थतालाई सुरुङमार्गले सहज बनाउन मद्दत गर्ने विश्वास पनि व्यक्त गरे। देशभित्र तथा बाहिरको सवारी आवागमनमा मात्र होइन अर्थतन्त्रको पनि मेरुदण्डको रूपमा रहेको त्रिभुवन राजमार्गको थानकोटखण्डको अस्तव्यस्थताले यात्रुले कष्ट उठाउनुपरेको छ। त्रिभुवन राजपथ काठमाडौंलाई बाँकी देशसँग जोड्ने सबैभन्दा सहज राजमार्ग हो। यो राजमार्गको प्रयोग गरेर दैनिक हजारौं यात्रु काठमाडौं आवतजावत मात्र गर्दैनन्, दैनिक उपभोग्य सामान एवं देशको महत्त्वपूर्ण व्यापारको ठूलो मात्रा यो राजमार्गबाटै भित्रिन्छ र बाहिरिन्छ। 
‘जापान सरकार नेपाली जनताको सहज आवागमनको लागि थानकोटमा २.३ किलोमिटरको सुरुङमार्ग निर्माणमा सहयोग गर्न चाहन्छ’, उनले भने, ‘जापान सरकारसँग अत्याधुनिक प्र्रविधि भएकोले जापान प्रविधि हस्तान्तरण गर्न चाहन्छ।’ 
अघिल्लो साता भौतिक पूर्वाधार तथा यातायात मन्त्रालयका सचिव तुल्सीप्रसाद सिटौलाको नेतृत्वमा नेपाली टोली सुरुङमार्गका लागि प्राविधिक र सैद्धान्तिक ज्ञान हासिल गर्न आठ सदस्यीय टोली जापान पनि गएको थियो। नेपाल सरकारले एक वर्षअगाडि नागढुंगा सडकखण्डमा सुरु ङमार्ग बनाउने विषयमा अध्ययन गरेको थियो। यसबाट २.३ किमि लामो सुरुङ नागढुंगाको इमाखेलदेखि नौबीसेको सिस्नेखोलासम्म बनाउने निर्णय भएको थियो। 
यस आयोजनाले मूर्तरूप लिएमा नेपालको सुरुङमार्ग यातायात क्षेत्रमा ठूलो सहयोग पुग्ने र भविष्यमा पनि अन्य सुरुङमार्गको लागि बाटो खुल्नेछ। 
यसैगरी, राजदूत ओगावाले जापानले नेपालको पूर्वाधारको विकासमा मद्दत गरिरहेको र अझ मद्दत गर्ने चाहना भएको पनि बताए। ‘बनेपा-बर्दिबास बीपी राजमार्ग आगामी मार्च महिनामा सम्पन्न हुने बताउँदै उनले यो राजमार्गले काठमाडौंदेखि तराईको दूरी मात्र छोट्ट्याएको होइन त्यसभेगका कृषकको कृषिजन्य उत्पादनले बजार पनि पाउने र उनीहरूको जीवनस्तरमा सुधार आउने पनि उनले बताए। 
६ महिनाअघि मात्र नेपाल आएका राजदूत ओगावाले शान्तिपूर्ण दोस्रो संविधानसभाको चुनाउको माध्यमबाट नयाँ सरकार बनेको र नेपालमा समयमा नै संविधान आउनेमा विश्वस्त हुँदै धेरै जापानीहरू नेपालीको बारेमा अझै परिचित नभएको तर नेपाल आउन चाहेको पनि बताए। ‘जापानले नेपालको जनशक्तिको विकासमा पनि मद्दत गरिरहेको छ’, उनले भने, ‘तर जिट्कोमा केही समस्या आएको भए पनि राजदूतावासले त्यसलाई सहजीकरण गर्न मद्दत गर्ने कोसिस गर्नेछ।’