The Nepali government has called an international competitive tender to select a service provider for the operation and maintenance of the Nagdhunga–Sisnekhola Tunnel Road, a major national infrastructure project seen as key to easing traffic congestion at the western gateway of Kathmandu Valley.

While the tunnel’s construction is almost complete and the route is technically ready for vehicular movement, the government has delayed its opening due to the need for specialized personnel and enhanced safety measures. The project includes a 2.7-km main traffic tunnel and a 2.6-km emergency tunnel, both designed to significantly improve connectivity and reduce travel time once operational. The government has established toll rates for vehicles using the tunnel to enable structured revenue collection, aligning with practices adopted in modern toll-based expressways and tunnel systems worldwide. The facility is equipped with modern safety, monitoring, and control technologies, including systems for ventilation, emergency lighting, fire response, traffic surveillance, and automated toll collection. Despite these advancements, the Department of Roads currently faces a shortage of specialized personnel and lacks the institutional expertise necessary to manage the tunnel’s round-the-clock operations and maintenance. To address this, the project is pursuing an international competitive bidding process to engage qualified and experienced professionals capable of operating and maintaining the sophisticated tunnel infrastructure.

The chosen service provider will oversee the operation and maintenance of the tunnel for a five-year period. Throughout this duration, a structured knowledge transfer program will be implemented, enabling foreign tunnel operation experts to train Nepali engineers, technicians, and managers in advanced operational practices. Given that the tunnel will function 24 hours a day, the operator must maintain a rapid response capability to handle emergencies such as accidents, fires, mechanical failures, or system malfunctions. To ensure continuous readiness, the service provider will assign personnel on a shift-based schedule and establish specialized emergency response teams dedicated to safety and incident management. 

According to the operational staffing plan, approximately 150 personnel will be employed to manage the tunnel. The Operation and Maintenance Chief will head the entire team, overseeing various specialized units. The Security Management Unit will have the largest workforce, comprising 64 staff members, while 54 personnel will handle toll collection and system operations. In addition, 14 staff members will manage traffic monitoring, signaling, and control, and 8 technicians each will be assigned to maintain civil structures and mechanical/electrical systems. The Nagdhunga–Sisnekhola Tunnel Road is regarded as a strategic national infrastructure project, designed to enhance traffic efficiency, reduce travel time between Kathmandu and western Nepal, and lower vehicle operating costs, marking a major milestone in the country’s transport modernization efforts.

The submission deadline for bids is December 17, 2025.