Skip to main content

Kathmandu's road widening project to ease congestion

The authorities in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu are working on widening the Kathmandu Valley road, a key project that has already seen the demolition of many structures along its boundary. The take-up of land has been eased by The Road Act, Nepal, which secures the roadside area of 25m on either side of the road on the National Highway.
May 11, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
Widening work is needed in Nepal because of a significant increase in the number of vehicles in the Kathmandu Valley
The authorities in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu are working on widening the Kathmandu Valley road, a key project that has already seen the demolition of many structures along its boundary.

The take-up of land has been eased by The Road Act, Nepal, which secures the roadside area of 25m on either side of the road on the National Highway.

The Department of Roads has worked with the Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Kathmandu Valley Urban Development Committee on the clearing operation.

The aim of the project is to build additional lanes to address traffic congestion along the route, and the 2437 Ministry of Physical Planning and Works is also constructing new and improvised bus stops to further reduce congestion and deliver more efficient traffic management.

The widening work is needed because of a significant increase in the numbers of vehicles in the Kathmandu Valley. Until now there has been no work to improve vehicle flow or provide effective traffic management while the existing road network has become insufficient for the growing numbers of vehicles in the area. This has resulted in the whole traffic system becoming clogged, particularly at peak periods during office hours.

In 1992 when Nepal’s government passed the Transportation Management Act there were 48,188 registered vehicles in the Kathmandu Valley and the total length of the road network in the area was 1,595km. There are now 567,670 registered in the Kathmandu Valley (not including other vehicles registered elsewhere in the country travelling through the valley or vehicles entering the country from neighbouring China or India).

Nepal’s Metropolitan Traffic Division claims there are now around 800,000 vehicles in the valley, and a number of areas will benefit from the new bus stops.

Nepal’s government is also constructing link roads and new roads to address traffic management, with the Kathmandu Valley Urban Development Committee working on the US$12 million Dhobikhola Corridor, a 5.7km road due for completion soon.

Related Content

  • Tackling Florida’s highway congestion
    August 5, 2016
    Congestion is a major problem in certain areas of US state Florida. Large number of commuters and tourists means that central Florida’s Interstate 4 (I-4) highway suffers particularly from congestion. Its proximity to Disneyland means that the traffic often comes to a complete standstill. A 2012 report from the Texas Transportation Institute ranked Orlando 13th in the US for traffic congestion, with more than 1.5 million daily trips on I-4. The report estimates that each frustrated commuter wastes about 45
  • Tackling Florida highway congestion
    October 4, 2016
    Congestion is a major problem in certain areas of US state Florida. Large number of commuters and tourists means that central Florida’s Interstate 4 (I-4) highway suffers particularly from congestion. Its proximity to Disneyland means that the traffic often comes to a complete standstill.
  • A key expressway project is due in Nepal
    July 26, 2012
    The Nepalese Government plans to open a key expressway project to tender. The Ministry of Physical Planning works and Transport Management is inviting bidders to show their interest in the construction of the Kathmandu-Nijgadh-Pathlaiya Terai/Madesh Expressway project. This new road link is intended to be offered under a PPP/BOT model. The 76km expressway is expected to cost US$853 million to construct. A feasibility study has been carried out and the expressway will be designed to meet the Class – A Catego
  • Challenges and investment opportunities in East Africa transport infrastructure Sector
    November 21, 2014
    East Africa offers considerable potential for transport infrastructure expansion and investment - Shem Oirere reports Infrastructure, infrastructure and more infrastructure is what is needed to make East Africa the favoured destination and Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda have unveiled grand plans to enhance the infrastructure both nationally and regionally.” This is how market analyst Deloitte introduced its 2014/15 budget analysis for the four countries in July.