KATHMANDU: Located at the main western gateway to Kathmandu, the newly completed Nagdhunga–Sisnekhola tunnel way and Balambu flyover are now brightly lit at night, transforming the entry point into the capital.

Connecting Kathmandu and Dhading, Nepal’s first road tunnel is scheduled to open this Monday following its official inauguration—nearly seven years after its foundation stone was laid by then-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in October 2019.

Built at a total cost of approximately Rs 29 billion through a joint effort between the Government of Nepal (Rs 6 billion) and soft loans from Japan (Rs 21.5 billion executed by Hazama Ando Corporation), the project features a 2.68-kilometer main tunnel alongside a 2.557-kilometer emergency escape tunnel.

On its opening day, only emergency vehicles will be permitted through the tunnel, after which private and public transport will be introduced in phased stages.

Pedestrians, two-wheelers, and vehicles transporting hazardous or inflammable materials like petrol and diesel are strictly prohibited.

Toll rates have been established based on vehicle type and direction: cars and vans will pay Rs 65 entering and Rs 60 exiting; mini-buses and tippers Rs 115 entering and Rs 80 exiting; standard buses and trucks Rs 260 entering and Rs 200 exiting; and heavy trucks Rs 600 entering and Rs 250 exiting.

Although originally slated for a 42-month build time, the project encountered delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, land acquisition hurdles, and compensation disputes.

Complementing the tunnel route is the 128-meter Balambu flyover near the Thankot checkpost along the Kalanki–Nagdhunga highway.

Featuring a 280-meter ramp toward the main road and a 210-meter ramp toward the tunnel approach, the flyover connects the new passage directly to the existing road network.

With modern streetlights installed across both structures, the illuminated gateway promises to significantly cut down travel times, reduce long-standing traffic jams at the Nagdhunga bottleneck, and create a safer, more organized transit system into the Kathmandu Valley.