Kathmandu. Toll fee will be charged from today for using Nagadhunga-Sisne river tunnel. Separate toll charges have been set for cars, buses, trucks and lorries for using the tunnel according to the size and direction of the vehicle. The government has already made a decision and issued a notice in the gazette, using the authority given by sub-section 1 of section 6 of the Road Board Act, 2058, and has announced the rate according to the decision to charge the tunnel consumption fee from the vehicles plying on the Nagadhunga tunnel section.

Accordingly, cars, vans, pick-up tractors, micro buses and other light vehicles will be charged Rs 65 when entering Kathmandu and Rs 60 when leaving. Similarly, entry fee of mini bus, mini tipper (truck) is 115 rupees and exit fee is 80 rupees and bus, truck single rear axle fee is 260 rupees upon entry and 200 rupees upon exit. In case of multi-axle truck vehicles and heavy equipment, entry fee is 600 rupees and exit fee is 250 rupees. To facilitate the payment, both 'N-Tag' based on RFID technology and cash have been arranged. Two-wheelers, three-wheelers, pedestrians and vehicles carrying highly flammable substances such as diesel, petrol or gas have been completely banned from entering the tunnel.

USIN ART JV has been entrusted with the operation and management of this tunnel, built with 21 and a half billion subsidized loans from Japan and 6 billion investment from the Government of Nepal, for five years. This project, which was laid the foundation stone by the then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in October 2076, was inaugurated and put into operation on 11th July last after its completion was delayed due to Covid and other issues.