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The country’s first tunnel project, the Nagdhunga-Sisnekhola Tunnel, has faced yet another delay despite being extended for the third time. Construction was stalled for nearly a month due to local obstruction, and officials say the project can only be completed on time if the contractor significantly accelerates the pace of work. Tunnel construction resumed recently, despite ongoing protests. 

Work had been halted on 17 March 2025, due to local resistance and was resumed 26 days later under police protection, according to Senior Divisional Engineer Sanjay Panthi. “Construction resumed in the presence of the Armed Police Force and District Police, but locals are still shouting slogans and staging demonstrations,” Panthi said. Given the month-long halt, it is now uncertain whether the project can be completed by the latest deadline of 23 Oct 2025. Panthi said that the delay might push the timeline back by another month, and the contractor may request an extension accordingly.

Originally, the project was scheduled to be completed by 26 April 2023. It was first delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and local obstructions, pushing the deadline to 27 April 2024. A second extension brought it to the current Oct 2025 target. Panthi noted that local residents have made multiple demands, including compensation for houses above the tunnel, free drinking water until the project’s completion, post-project employment, and fair land compensation. “We have already addressed the compensation issue and other legitimate demands, but new demands keep emerging. That’s why we had to resume work with police assistance,” he said.

The tunnel project was launched to ease traffic congestion on the heavily jammed Naubise-Kathmandu section of the Tribhuvan Highway. It includes a 2,688-meter main tunnel stretching from Sisnekhola in Nagdhunga Bhanjyang to Chandragiri Municipality-3 in Kathmandu district, along with 565 meters of western access road and 2,307 meters to the east. The foundation stone was laid by then-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on 21 Oct 2019, following an agreement signed on 23 Sept 2019, between the Roads Department and Japan’s Hazama-Ando JV.

The Rs 22bn project is being executed by Hazama-Ando JV and is funded through a Rs 16.8bn loan from Japan’s JICA. The rescue tunnel has already been completed. As part of the project, a 2.3 km paved road will be built from Tribhuvan Highway in Thankot to Basnet Chap, and another 565 meters from Sisnekhola in Dhunibesi toward Dhading. The main tunnel, stretching from Dahachowk to Sisnekhola, will be 2.688 kilometers long, 9.5 meters wide, and 18 meters high. Once operational, it will reduce the travel time between Thankot and Sisnekhola to just three minutes, saving at least 30 minutes of the usual journey and shortening the route by eight kilometers. It will make it possible to reach Naubise from Thankot in just 10 minutes.

Engineer Panthi stated that the project is now 88 percent complete, six years after construction began. Following flood damage to the Naubise road last September, traffic had to be rerouted through the partially completed tunnel.

With the onset of summer, watermelons have begun appearing in fruit shops across the market. As demand rises, farmers are busy harvesting melons planted along the banks of the Mechi River, which flows through the Nepal-India border. In Bhadrapur Municipality-3 farmers have successfully cultivated watermelons weighing between two to 10 kg after three months of dedicated work.

Manoj Kumar Rai, a resident of Bhadrapur-3, has been growing melons in the sandy soil of the Mechi River for the past 5–6 years. This season, he planted around 9,000 seedlings across approximately six bighas of land. Despite struggling to secure investment last season due to unfavorable weather, he is now optimistic. “This year’s production is better than expected,” said Rai. “There should be over 18 tons of melons in the field, with individual melons weighing between four to eight kilograms.” He added that the Bhadrapur Municipality has provided a subsidy of Rs 40,000 to first-time melon cultivators, which has eased the financial burden.

Another farmer, Anay Rajbanshi, has been cultivating melons on 30 kattas of land. “Last year, I made Rs 180,000 after expenses,” he said. “This season too looks promising in terms of production and income.” Rajbanshi appreciated the municipality’s support, saying it has encouraged farmers who previously relied solely on their own investment. A group of young farmers has collectively cultivated melons across eight to 10 bighas. “At a time when many youths are going abroad for work, melon farming has shown us we can build a future here as well,” said one of the youths. “With hard work, success is possible not just in soil, but even in sand.” He urged the municipality to continue supporting the program, which has provided subsidies for the first time.

Melons grown on the Mechi Riverbanks are being transported to Jhapa, other eastern districts, and even to cities like Lahan, Kathmandu, and Pokhara. Traders now arrive at the riverbank with vehicles to buy directly from farmers, offering Rs 28 per kilogram. Under its melon farming promotion program, Bhadrapur Municipality has provided Rs 40,000 each to 12 farmers. Suman Bimli from the municipality’s agriculture department said the initiative was introduced this year to support local farmers.

Mayor Ganesh Pokharel stated that subsidies were provided to those cultivating melons on at least 30 kattas of land. “This year’s harvest is impressive, and the municipality will continue this program,” he said. Pokharel added that Mechi melons have even reached five-star hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara, highlighting the potential of local produce.

Kathmandu Valley has seen a series of impulsive, rage-fueled killings over the past few weeks. These violent outbursts, which are often triggered by seemingly trivial disputes, are posing a significant challenge for law enforcement. Four such murders committed in the heat of the moment have been reported in the valley in the space of two weeks. In one such case, Ripesh Khati (30), originally from Ramechhap, was fatally stabbed late on March 27 in Imadol, Lalitpur. Police have arrested Suman Rasaili (25), also from Ramechhap, in connection with the killing.

According to Lalitpur Police Chief Shyam Krishna Adhikari, Rasaili became enraged upon learning that Khati had allegedly harassed his 14-year-old sister. He asked Khati to meet him at an isolated location and attacked him with a khukuri, inflicting severe wounds to his neck and face. Khati died before he could receive medical help. “The murder was a result of uncontrolled anger,” Adhikari said, adding that the tragedy might have been averted had the harassment been reported to the police earlier.

In another incident, Abhay Gole from Dhungedada was killed near LRI School in Kalanki, Kathmandu, at around 9 pm on March 24 during a street altercation. A group, including Rohit Khadka, Binay Lama and Parbit Natesh, attacked Gole with a khukuri and an iron rod. Gole was found injured on the street and rushed to Shahid Memorial Hospital, where he was declared dead.

Kathmandu Police Range Spokesperson Apil Raj Bohora said a minor disagreement during Holi celebrations escalated into the incident. “This happened because of unchecked egos and lack of parental oversight over young adults,” said Bohora. “The group tried to resolve the issue themselves, and a young man lost his life.”

Earlier, on March 11, Laxman Khadka (32) was beaten to death in Madhyapur Thimi, Bhaktapur. Police arrested Yadav Paudel (39) of Sarlahi and Anish Tamang (24) of Sindhuli in connection with the fatal attack.  According to Bhaktapur Police Chief SP Dhundi Raj Neupane, the suspects have admitted to attacking Khadka over a petty dispute.  He was found unconscious in Magargaun and later succumbed to injuries.

In yet another case, Om Prakash Rai from Khotang was found murdered at Nilbarahi Picnic Spot in Bhaktapur, with injuries to his head and ears. Police arrested Himal Budha Magar of Rolpa for a probe. According to police, Himal has confessed to killing Rai during an argument over
Rs 100 offered by devotees.
Police records show Kathmandu Valley alone saw 842 homicide-related cases in the first eight months of the fiscal year 2024-25. Kathmandu district accounted for 624 cases, followed by Lalitpur with 124 and Bhaktapur with 94. Additionally, 1,638 social crime complaints were registered during the same period. 

Nepal Police Spokesperson Dinesh Kumar Acharya described these impulse-driven murders as part of a disturbing trend. “Unlike premeditated crimes, these incidents show no warning signs, making prevention nearly impossible,” he said. “Police can only investigate and ensure justice for victims.” Acharya underlined the need for increased social awareness to prevent such incidents. “Families must pay close attention to behavioral changes in their children,” he said. “Crimes often occur in heated moments. The risk of violence has been growing with rising unemployment and aimlessness among youths.” He added that most of these crimes stem from personal issues, such as financial problems or relationship conflicts.

Lalitpur Police Chief Adhikari said that although police monitor individuals with known criminal backgrounds, it is difficult to prevent spontaneous disputes among friends or within families.

Former DIG of Nepal Police, Hemant Malla Thakuri, said passion-driven crimes are difficult to anticipate. “These acts happen suddenly, without clear signals. But some could be prevented if people at the scene exercised caution,” he said.

Nepal is experiencing a growing economic disparity between its urban and rural areas, where rapid development in cities contrasts sharply with the stagnation in rural regions. The concentration of infrastructure, services and job opportunities in urban centers exacerbates inequality, while rural areas remain underdeveloped and lack basic facilities. This uneven development has led to a significant rural-to-urban migration, with people leaving villages in search of better opportunities in cities, further depleting rural economies.

Urban centers have become magnets for rural populations due to the concentration of essential services such as education, healthcare and employment opportunities. The hope of improving living conditions drives internal migration, as rural residents believe cities offer a better standard of living. This urban-centric development model not only leaves rural areas behind but also accelerates the growth of overcrowded cities, contributing to further challenges like rising unemployment and inadequate housing.

In response to this issue, Nepal adopted a federal system of governance to decentralize power and resources. The goal was to empower provincial and local governments, assuming that they would be better equipped to address local needs and promote equitable development. By transferring authority and funds to local governments, it was hoped that development would be more localized and tailored to the specific needs of rural areas. Unfortunately, the anticipated benefits have not fully materialized.

Despite the decentralization of power, rural development has not seen significant improvements. In many cases, local governments have struggled to use the funds effectively, and instead, the transfer of power has led to the decentralization of corruption. Local authorities have misused public resources meant for development, often siphoning off funds for personal gains. This problem, which was initially concentrated in the central government, has now spread to local levels, undermining the objectives of decentralization.

Corruption at the local level has further deepened economic inequality. Political elites and well-connected individuals in both urban and rural areas often benefit from the misuse of state resources, while ordinary citizens continue to face hardship. Funds that could have been used for infrastructure development, job creation, education and healthcare are diverted through corrupt practices, leaving rural communities trapped in poverty and underdevelopment. This corruption weakens public trust and limits the potential for inclusive growth, which could have uplifted the rural population.

Moreover, the lack of transparency and accountability in local governance has made it difficult to ensure that development projects are carried out effectively. In many cases, development funds are not properly monitored, and there is little oversight to ensure that they reach the intended communities. Without effective monitoring mechanisms, local leaders are often able to exploit the system for personal gains, while the rural poor continue to suffer from a lack of access to essential services.

The failure to achieve equitable development and inclusive growth can also be attributed to weak governance structures at the local level. Local leaders often lack the capacity to manage development effectively, and there is a significant gap in skills and knowledge required to implement projects that could drive real change. In the absence of strong institutions and effective leadership, rural areas continue to miss out on the benefits of federalism and decentralization.

To address the growing disparity between urban and rural areas, Nepal needs comprehensive reforms. One of the most critical steps is to strengthen anti-corruption mechanisms at both the local and national levels. Transparency in how development funds are allocated and spent is crucial to ensure that resources are used effectively. Independent bodies should be established to monitor the use of public funds and hold local leaders accountable for any misuse. Additionally, capacity-building programs for local leaders and administrators are essential to improve governance and ensure that development projects are implemented effectively.

Another important reform is the improvement of infrastructure and services in rural areas. This can be achieved through better planning, prioritizing rural development and ensuring that basic services such as healthcare, education, and transportation are accessible to all. Rural communities should not be left behind in the pursuit of national development, and government policies must reflect this commitment to equitable growth.

Furthermore, local governments must be provided with the tools and training necessary to manage development funds effectively. Capacity building should focus on transparency, financial management and project implementation to ensure that rural areas benefit from the decentralization of power.

In conclusion, Nepal’s growing economic inequality, fueled by the urban-rural divide, requires urgent action. The decentralization of power through federalism has not led to the expected improvements in rural development, largely due to corruption, mismanagement, and weak governance. To bridge the gap between urban and rural areas, Nepal must strengthen its institutions, promote transparency and build the capacity of local leaders. Only then can the country achieve true inclusive development and provide equal opportunities for all its citizens, regardless of where they live.