Nepal Infrastructure 
KATHMANDU: The government has extended the timeline for the construction of Nagdhunga tunnel project by three months. Hazama Ando Corporation, the Japanese contractor, had earlier agreed to complete the project in 42 months from the date of commencement.
Ramhari Pokhrel, project chief, said the deadline has been extended by three months bringing the total
Construction period to 45 months. “Though the construction company requested for more than a 3-month extension, we extended by only three months,” said Pokhrel. “The extension was made considering the impact of COVID-19 in project activities.”
The contract agreement for the Nagdhunga tunnel construction project was signed on September
23, 2019. The construction works were started on November 14, 2019, with the target of completing the construction in 42 months. But now, after adding three more months, a new schedule has been fixed to complete the project on July 20, 2023.
“If the construction work goes as planned, the project will be completed within the extended time frame,” said Pokhrel.
Though the deadline of the project has been extended, the project stated that the cost of the project will not exceed Rs 22 billion. The overall progress of the Nagdhunga tunnel has crossed 45 percent, said Pokhrel.
