Starting November 1, motorists using the Nagdhunga Tunnel road will be required to pay toll fees, the Nagdhunga Tunnel Construction Project announced. The project, overseen by Nepal’s Ministry of Infrastructure Development, issued a public notice confirming the introduction of the toll, following approval from the Road Board Nepal’s executive committee on September 28 and subsequent publication in the Nepal Gazette.

According to Sanjaya Panthi, Deputy Project Director and information officer for the project, the toll charges have been structured based on vehicle categories and differ for vehicles entering and leaving Kathmandu.

The fee schedule is divided into four categories. Category 1 includes cars, vans, pick-ups, tractors, microbuses, and other light vehicles; these will incur a charge of NPR 65 when entering Kathmandu and NPR 60 when exiting the city. Category 2 covers minibuses and mini-tippers or trucks, with tolls set at NPR 115 for entry and NPR 80 for exit.

For Category 3 vehicles, which comprise buses and trucks with a single rear axle, the toll fees are NPR 260 for entering Kathmandu and NPR 200 for leaving. The highest charges apply to Category 4 vehicles, including multi-axle trucks, other multi-axle vehicles, and heavy equipment. These vehicles will pay NPR 600 when entering Kathmandu and NPR 250 upon exit.

The tiered toll system reflects an effort to regulate usage of the Nagdhunga Tunnel road and generate revenue for its maintenance and operational costs, marking a significant change for commuters and freight transporters on this key route.