August 10, Kathmandu.
As preparations are underway for the operation of the Nagdhunga-Sisnekhola tunnel road, an initiative has been taken to make the tunnel usage fee cashless. An agreement has been signed between the Nepal Truck Transport Entrepreneurs Federation and Sanima Bank to arrange for digital payment of the tunnel’s entry and usage fees.
According to the agreement, fees incurred upon entering the tunnel will be managed through an RFID system, while truck and other vehicle owners will be able to easily pay the fee by scanning a QR code.
This is expected to eliminate the hassle of carrying cash to pay fees, making the payment process faster, more secure, and transparent. The agreement was signed by Federation President Rajendra Bikram Baniya and Sanima Bank’s Chief Deposit Officer Hemraj Sanjyal.
The government had previously decided to collect usage fees from vehicles using the Nagdhunga tunnel road under the Road Board Act, 2001. Accordingly, fee rates for various categories of vehicles have been determined through a notice published in the Gazette.
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According to the determined fees, cars, vans, pickups, tractors, microbuses, and other light vehicles will have to pay NPR 65 when entering Kathmandu and NPR 60 when exiting. For minibuses and mini trucks/tippers, the entry fee is NPR 115 and the exit fee is NPR 80. Similarly, for buses and single rear axle trucks, the entry fee is NPR 260 and the exit fee is NPR 200. For multi-axle trucks, heavy vehicles, and heavy equipment, the entry fee is NPR 600 and the exit fee is NPR 250.
Federation President Baniya expressed confidence that the implementation of the digital payment system will provide great relief to truck and cargo vehicle operators who regularly use the tunnel road. According to him, the use of QR and RFID technology will streamline fee collection and also contribute to the expansion of digital transactions in the transport sector.
As the Nagdhunga Tunnel Road is Nepal’s first road tunnel, its operation is expected to usher in a new era of modern transport infrastructure and digital service delivery.
For More: Nagdhunga Tunnel QR Payment
