KATHMANDU, April 15: The much-anticipated breakthrough of the Nagdhunga Tunnel was achieved on Monday with the successful completion of the excavation of the 2,688-meter-long main tunnel.

Kikuta Yutaka, the Japanese ambassador to Nepal, extended his congratulations to all involved parties, both Japanese and Nepalis, for overcoming numerous challenges to achieve this significant milestone. "You are the pride of the country,” he said.

The Nagdhunga Tunnel, valued at Rs 22 billion, marks Nepal's first mountainous traffic road tunnel. The government of Japan has provided three-quarters of the funding through highly concessional loans to the Government of Nepal. Japanese engineering companies are overseeing the construction, which, upon completion of the remaining interior works such as lining and connecting equipment, is expected to greatly reduce traffic congestion and promote local economic growth.

Construction on the tunnel began in 2019, with the project facing considerable challenges due to the mountainous terrain, unpredictable floods, collapses within the tunnels, heavy rainfall causing landslides, and delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these obstacles, Japanese and Nepali teams collaborated to address technical challenges, drawing from their experience on the Sindhuli road, also known as BP highway, which was supported by the Government of Japan.

The project has also provided an opportunity to transfer advanced Japanese construction skills to young Nepali engineers, promising future benefits for Nepal. The Embassy of Japan expressed belief that this tunnel will play a crucial role in Nepal's sustainable economic development and further strengthen the friendly ties between Japan and Nepal.

 
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