KATHMANDU, Nov 2: An international tender has been announced to select a service provider for operating and maintaining the Nagdhunga–Sisnekhola tunnel.
The Nagdhunga Tunnel Construction Project issued the tender on Sunday to select an experienced and capable service provider through international competition. The deadline for submission is 17 December 2025 (2 Poush 2082).
Although the tunnel is technically operational, it cannot be fully opened due to a lack of skilled personnel and safety concerns. The main tunnel is 2.7 km long, with an emergency tunnel of 2.6 km. The government has already set tolls for vehicles using the tunnel.
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The tunnel includes advanced systems, but given the current workload of the Department of Roads and limited experience, operation and maintenance would be difficult without specially trained personnel. The selected service provider will operate and maintain the tunnel for five years.
During this period, adequate technology transfer from foreign experts to Nepali technical and managerial staff is expected, allowing future tunnels and fast-track structures to be managed locally.
Since the tunnel must operate 24 hours, emergency services are required in case of accidents, fire, or system failure. The service provider will assign staff in shifts and set up an emergency team to ensure timely service. A total of 150 positions have been proposed.
The tunnel operation and maintenance team will be led by the chief, with 64 personnel in the security management unit. Fifty-four staff will manage toll collection, 14 will monitor and control traffic, and eight each will handle civil and other structural maintenance.
