Nagdhunga Tunnel Fun Run and Walk Held

Kathmandu. A 'Nagdhunga Tunnel Fun Run and Walk' has been organized today at the Nagdhunga tunnel connecting Nagdhunga and Sisnekhola. A running program was organized in the tunnel, which is scheduled to come into operation on a trial basis from July 11, about a year after its construction was completed. The tunnel, which has been delayed in coming into operation due to various technical and managerial reasons, is now being prepared to be brought into operation in phases. This program has been organized by the Department of Roads and JICA. Representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will participate in the inauguration ceremony. The tunnel will initially be operated only on a trial basis, and it will take another two to three months for it to be fully commercially operational. Although no fee will be charged for vehicles using the tunnel during the trial period, the fee set by the government will be applicable after commercial operation. With the operation of the tunnel, the long traffic jams on the Kathmandu-Nagdhunga road section are expected to decrease. Currently, the 7.5-kilometer distance from Balambu to Sisnekhola will be limited to about 5 kilometers after the tunnel operation. It is believed that this will also reduce the travel time by about half. The management of the entire system including oxygen, fire control, security, communication, electricity, and toll collection has been completed inside the tunnel. The Department of Roads has stated that it took some time for the legal and technical preparations for operation as this project is Nepal's first road tunnel.