The Department of Roads (DoR) Nepal Government has appointed Japanese company Nippon Koei to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) and provide construction supervision for the Nagdhunga Tunnel Construction Project. 

The Japanese firm  has to hand over the report by March 2018.

The main objective of the Project is to improve the road condition around Nagdhunga pass by constructing a tunnel, thereby contributing to the smooth transportation network between Kathmandu and other principal cities/areas in Nepal.

The tunnel road is expected to definitely cut travel time over the mountainous route from Nagdhunga to Naubise, the main gateway to Kathmandu. It will also smooth traffic once the tunnel is built.

The Japanese government signed an official development assistance loan agreement with the Nepal government worth NRs15.2 billion for the construction of the tunnel in December 2017. The repayment period has been fixed at 40 years and the grace period at 10 years. The loan carries an interest rate of 0.01 percent per year.

The proposed tunnel will have two 3.5-meter-wide lanes and a 2.5-meter-wide shoulder. It will also have LED lighting facility, mechanical ventilation, evacuation tunnel door and emergency telephone service as international standard.

The Nagdhunga Tunnel Project has basically two components—construction of a 2.45-km tunnel from Basnetchhap (Totti Pakha) to Sisne Khola(Dhading) and a 2.6-km approach road from Totti Pakha to Doorsanchar Substation (Tribuvan Highway). The Department of road is offering 62 meters wide for the Approach Road for 11 Meters Tunnel Road and this approach road will take approx. 161200.00 square meters of land including 8 proper buildings. They expect to built two bridges in Approach Road. This approach will directly affect more than 547 landowners and home owners, they are totally depend on their land.

The Department of Road is offering compensation for those lands and buildings with monotonous decision.  Where as there was clear solution to joining the tunnel to the alternate existing road to Totti Pakha to Sitapaila(Kalanki). It will definitely save the entire compensation for approx. 161200.00. The government of Nepal could built more than 100 bridges in Rural areas, Schools and hospitals with those massive amount of money.

We (All locals from Thankot, Chekpost, Aakash Tole, Kishipidi, Balambu, Dahachowk etc) would like to request you all to sign and support our petition of Build Tunnel but not join to Tribuvan Highway. Save our lands and homes. Save us to become LANDLESS and HOMELESS of our ancestor sign.