- Nepal officially opened its first road tunnel, the 2,688-metre Nagdhunga Tunnel, marking a historic milestone in the nation's modern transport infrastructure development.
- The tunnel enhances connectivity between Kathmandu and southern regions, reducing travel time and improving safety by bypassing dangerous bends and frequent landslide zones.
- Funded by Japan’s concessional loan of 22.3 billion yen, the project reflects decades of international cooperation and successful knowledge transfer in complex engineering.
Kathmandu, Nepal: After years of planning, complex engineering and perseverance through numerous challenges beneath Nepal's rugged hills, the country's first road tunnel officially opened on Monday, marking a historic milestone in Nepal's journey towards modern transport infrastructure.
For thousands of motorists who have spent hours navigating traffic congestion and dangerous bends at Nagdhunga, the tunnel represents far more than a new road. It promises shorter journeys, safer travel and more reliable access along one of Nepal's busiest transport corridors.
The 2,688-metre Nagdhunga Tunnel on the Tribhuvan Highway was inaugurated by Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development Sunil Lamsal, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President Dr Akihiko Tanaka and 63-year-old construction worker Purna Joshi. Inviting one of the workers who helped build the tunnel to participate in the inauguration added a deeply symbolic touch, recognising the dedication of the engineers, technicians and labourers whose efforts made the ambitious project possible.
Built with financial and technical support from the Government of Japan under its Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme, the tunnel was financed through a concessional loan of approximately 22.3 billion Japanese yen (around NPR 21.2 billion). It is expected to significantly improve connectivity between Kathmandu Valley and Nepal's southern and western regions by reducing travel time, easing congestion and making travel safer throughout the year.
For decades, the Nagdhunga–Naubise section has been one of Nepal's most challenging stretches of road. Long queues of vehicles, steep gradients, sharp bends and frequent landslides during the monsoon have often turned relatively short journeys into hours of frustration and uncertainty. For transport operators, businesses and daily commuters alike, the road has symbolised both Nepal's geographical challenges and the urgent need for modern infrastructure.
Government officials believe the tunnel will finally change that reality.
Speaking after the inauguration, Minister Lamsal said the completion of the country's first road tunnel marked the beginning of a new chapter in Nepal's infrastructure development.
He said the project demonstrated Nepal's growing ability to undertake complex engineering works and expressed confidence that similar tunnel projects would be developed in other parts of the country in the years ahead.
The achievement, however, did not come easily.
Construction officially began in November 2019 after the foundation stone was laid by then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli the previous month. During excavation, engineers encountered unstable geological formations that required repeated adjustments to construction methods. At one stage, heavy monsoon rainfall triggered a major slope failure near the western portal of the tunnel, threatening both worker safety and construction progress.
Despite these setbacks, Nepali and Japanese engineers worked closely together to overcome the challenges through advanced tunnelling technology, comprehensive geological assessments and innovative engineering solutions.
Officials involved in the project said the tunnel had also become an important platform for knowledge transfer, enabling Nepali engineers and technical professionals to acquire valuable expertise that will benefit future infrastructure projects across the country's mountainous terrain.
Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development Gopal Prasad Sigdel described the project as the beginning of a new era in Nepal's transport infrastructure. He said it demonstrated what could be achieved through sustained political commitment, international cooperation and technical excellence.
The tunnel's significance extends far beyond reducing travel time.
The Tribhuvan Highway is one of Nepal's most important transport corridors, carrying passengers and freight between Kathmandu and the country's southern regions. Improving the reliability of this route is expected to reduce transportation costs, improve the movement of goods, strengthen domestic trade and make supply chains more efficient.
Businesses, tourism operators and logistics companies are all expected to benefit from a transport corridor that is less vulnerable to congestion and weather-related disruptions.
For Japan, the project represents another milestone in a development partnership with Nepal that has spanned seven decades.
Addressing the ceremony, JICA President Dr Akihiko Tanaka said the tunnel reflected the strong and enduring friendship between the two countries. He noted that repeated monsoon-induced road closures in recent years had underscored the importance of investing in resilient transport infrastructure capable of withstanding increasingly unpredictable weather conditions.
Japanese Ambassador Toru Maeda described the tunnel as more than an engineering achievement. He said it symbolised the trust, friendship and long-standing cooperation that have characterised Nepal–Japan relations over the past 70 years.
Japanese officials also emphasised that maintaining the tunnel properly would be just as important as constructing it, ensuring that future generations continue to benefit from the investment.
The timing of the inauguration carries additional significance as Nepal and Japan commemorate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026. Over the decades, Japan has supported Nepal across a wide range of sectors, including transport infrastructure, education, healthcare, disaster risk reduction, agriculture, water supply and energy.
The Nagdhunga Tunnel now joins that long list of successful cooperation projects. Unlike many development initiatives that operate quietly in the background, this project will become part of the daily lives of thousands of people travelling to and from Kathmandu.
More importantly, the tunnel reflects Nepal's evolving infrastructure ambitions.
For many years, modern road tunnels were regarded as engineering achievements attainable only by technologically advanced nations. The successful completion of Nepal's first road tunnel demonstrates that, with sustained political commitment, international cooperation and technical expertise, the country is capable of delivering infrastructure projects of international standards.
As the first vehicles begin passing through the tunnel, the project stands not only as a new transport route but also as a powerful symbol of Nepal's determination to overcome geographical barriers through innovation, engineering excellence and international partnership.
