Nepal’s Infrastructure Development Minister, Sunil Lamsal, has announced plans to reinstall the inauguration plaque of the Nagdhunga Tunnel Road, which was previously removed.
The tunnel was inaugurated by former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on November 17, 2019. However, the plaque bearing Oli’s name was vandalized and went missing, sparking protests from some quarters.
Nagdhunga Tunnel Road
The Nagdhunga Tunnel Road, which was officially opened today, has a total length of 2.688 kilometers, including a 2.557-kilometer auxiliary tunnel. The project was made possible through a 0.01% interest loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
According to Minister Lamsal, the missing plaque will be recovered and reinstalled. The tunnel’s feasibility study was conducted in 2006/07 during the tenure of former Prime Ministers Jhala Nath Khanal and Dr. Baburam Bhattarai. The tunnel’s breakthrough was achieved by another former Prime Minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda.
Minister Lamsal has expressed hopes that the Nagdhunga Tunnel Road will set a precedent for similar projects across the country. ‘We have entered the tunnel era, and this tunnel has taught us a lot,’ he said, speaking to the media after the inauguration.
The Nagdhunga Tunnel Road is Nepal’s first modern road tunnel, built with the assistance of JICA.
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