Nepal has opened its first modern road tunnel, the 2.68-km Nagdhunga–Sisne Khola Tunnel on the Tribhuvan Highway, cutting travel time from over an hour to 5-7 minutes and easing movement into the Kathmandu Valley. Built with Japanese assistance through JICA, the project was described by JICA President Akihiko Tanaka as “a project of historic significance” and “a vital gateway connecting Kathmandu with Western Nepal and India”. While the tunnel does not directly connect to India, officials say it strengthens a key corridor that carries an estimated 60-70% of goods entering Kathmandu and feeds into major India-Nepal trade routes like Birgunj–Raxaul.
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