By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Oct. 22: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said on Monday that Nepal had now entered a new era of development.
Laying down the foundation stone of the Nagdhunga-Sisnekhola Tunnel Way amidst a function at Totepakha of Chandragiri Municipality today, the Prime Minister said that the construction of the tunnel way was a new leap in the country’s development process.
“We are taking the country ahead in the path of economic development by introducing new development practices like the tunnel way project. I want to express my gratitude to the government of Japan and Japanese people for the support in constructing the tunnel way,” the Prime Minister said.
The proposed tunnel highway is being constructed at the cost of Rs. 22 billion and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will provide soft loan of Rs. 16 billion. The remaining cost will be managed by the government of Nepal from its internal sources.
Prime Minister Oli said that the construction works of the tunnel way would be completed in next 42 months. “Let’s wait for some time to see the new model of development. The construction works take a maximum of 42 months. I am confident that the construction company will complete the work within the deadline,” the Prime Minister said. The government has given the responsibility of constructing the tunnel way to a Japanese construction company Hajma and Ando JV.
The Prime Minister said that the government had started the process of constructing tunnel ways in other places of the country as well.
“The government will move ahead by practicing new model of development in a plan way. Persons who tend to only make backbiting should now talk about works of the government,” the Prime Minister said.
On the occasion, the Prime Minister released the metal scripture of the tunnel way.
Former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Raghubir Mahasheth and Japanese Ambassador Masamichi Saigo were present during the programme.
According to project director Shyam Prasad Kharel, two small flyovers will also be constructed in the heads of tunnel way and at Satungal. He said that the project had now distributing compensation to the land owners of the project site in Chandragiri Municipality.
Nagdhunga Tunnel Way will be the first tunnel way constructed in Nepal for the purpose of operating vehicles. Earlier, some small tunnels were constructed for the purpose of hydropower projects and drinking water projects. The length of tunnel way from Tribhuvan Rajpath at Balambu to Sisnekhola of Dhadhing is 2.66 kilometres. The length of the tunnel way including the access road is 5.56 kilometres.