The Department of Roads (DoR) has proposed a toll ranging from Rs 50 to Rs 500 for vehicles using the Nagdhunga Tunnel Road, which is expected to open to traffic by the upcoming Dashain festival. The toll would vary by vehicle type, with small vehicles paying Rs 50, buses Rs 200, and large trucks up to Rs 500. Vehicles entering and exiting the tunnel in both directions will be charged separately.
According to Arjun Aryal, joint secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, the operating procedures for the tunnel have been drafted and are awaiting ministry approval. The final handover deadline for the project is mid-October 2025, but the ministry plans to open the tunnel for use immediately after it is received from the contractor.
Motorcycles and flammable fuel-carrying vehicles will not be allowed inside the tunnel. However, motorcycles may pass through if transported within another vehicle. The toll-collection responsibility is expected to be handed to a private company through a tender process. This company will also handle tunnel safety, including oxygen supply, fire control, security, and communication, while covering electricity costs.
The project, Nepal’s first road tunnel of its kind, began in 2019 and has seen two deadline extensions. Japanese firm Hazama-Ando JV is overseeing construction with financial support from JICA and the Nepal government. Major infrastructure components, including bridges, culverts, and flyovers, are nearing completion.
