Locals have once again obstructed the construction of the Nagdhunga-Sisnekhola tunnel road, bringing all work to a standstill at both the Tutipakha side in Chandragiri, Kathmandu, and Sisnekhola in Dhunibesi Municipality, Dhading, since Monday.

Residents living near the roadside service station at the tunnel’s Dhading entrance have obstructed the work, demanding compensation for damages. They also obstructed construction at the tunnel site in Kathmandu, as well as at the flyover under construction at Balambu’s Kisipidi.

This disruption comes at a critical juncture as the project nears completion.

“Currently, the work was scheduled to be completed by mid-September, and workers had been mobilised according to that timeline. However, due to the stoppage, the completion timeline has now become uncertain,” said senior divisional engineer Sanjay Panthi of the Nagdhunga Tunnel Project.

He explained that several houses near the roadside service station had been affected by flooding in September last year, resulting in cracks in the ground. One of the affected residents, Kalu Tamang, has been demanding compensation. Locals claim that water from the service station contributed to the damage.

The Department of Roads’ Development Cooperation Implementation Division has conducted a geological study, and a report is expected shortly. “Once the report is received, we will make a decision on the next steps,” said Panthi. “We are actively working to resolve the issue and resume work as quickly as possible.”

The project is 86 percent complete, while the flyover is 96 percent finished. “The final work inside the tunnel is underway, but ongoing disruptions by locals are slowing down progress. Such obstructions, which could be resolved through dialogue, are unjustified,” he added.

Repeated interruptions have impeded the progress of Nepal’s first tunnel road. However, government agencies have been slow to address these issues.

A Japanese technical team of 20 experts is expected to arrive in April to conduct tunnel testing. Meanwhile, the connection to the electricity supply, which has been pending for over three months, remains unresolved. Landslide control work at the Dhading entrance is also ongoing.

The project has faced delays due to land acquisition challenges and the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the recent obstruction by locals has further hindered its progress.

The foundation stone for the Rs22 billion project was laid by then-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in October 2019.

The project was initially expected to be completed within three and a half years from its inception. However, it faced delays due to the Covid pandemic and, more recently, a shortage of construction materials.

Initially, the project encountered delays because of the acquisition of 44 ropanis of land in Dhading for the project office. Disputes over compensation rates between the project and the locals of Dhunibesi, along with uncertainties surrounding the acquisition of trust lands and unregistered land, caused further setbacks.

The Home Ministry’s January 4, 2023, circular, which banned “illegal” crusher plants across the country, also delayed the project for a month.

The project’s deadline, which was first extended by three months, was further extended to April 25, 2024, from its original deadline of April 26, 2023. The deadline has now been extended again, this time to mid-October 2025, as the work has not been completed within the previous timeframe.