Chinese-Nepali Joint Venture Set to Manage Nepal's First Modern Tunnel Road
Summary
A Chinese-Nepali joint venture will manage Nepal's first modern road tunnel, the Nagdhunga-Sisnekhola Tunnel Road, with operations set to begin around mid-2024 and a modern toll collection system introduced.
Key Points
- A Chinese-Nepali joint venture, Yujin-ART JV, won the contract to operate Nepal's first modern tunnel road for 5 years with a bid approximately 40% below the estimate.
- The tunnel management includes maintenance, traffic control, rescue readiness, and deployment of 150 security personnel for safety and toll collection.
- A modern toll fee collection system incorporating cash, digital, and RFID automated payments is planned to be implemented, aiming for a fully cashless system.
- Physical construction is 98% complete, with landslide control work scheduled to finish by mid-May, enabling tunnel operation by mid-June 2024.
