The Nepal Ministry of Physical Planning, Works and Transport Management will sign the final agreement with the Nepal Purbadhar Bikas Company (NPBC) within a month to develop the Kathmandu-Hetauda Tunnel Highway. NPBC submitted the Detail Project Report (DPR) to the government in November‚ 2012. Before signing the final agreement, the government will have to settle outstanding issues about operator franchise duration and tax treatment, and the final alignment of the road to avoid overlap with the proposed Kathmandu-Tarai Fast-Track road.

The 50 km-long tunnel road, with three tunnels total length 4.5 km and 25 bridges, will shorten the distance between Kathmandu and Hetauda significantly. Currently‚ Hetauda is linked with Kathmandu by two highways, one of which is 227 km-long and the other 133 km. Click np/17 for tunnelbuilder archive. Visit www.npbcl.com and www.ekantipur.com. 09/13.