Skip to main content

The Nepalese Government is investing in roads around capital Kathmandu

A new road-widening strategy is being put into effect in Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley. The aim of this programme is to reduce traffic jams on busy roads, especially during peak hours. A major problem for Kathmandu is that the current road the infrastructure in the city is not sufficient for the increasing numbers of vehicles. In a bid to tackle the problem, the authorities have initiated a programme of road widening in various areas of Kathmandu Valley. However, obstructions have been encountered due to residen
May 16, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
A new road-widening strategy is being put into effect in Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley. The aim of this programme is to reduce traffic jams on busy roads, especially during peak hours. A major problem for Kathmandu is that the current road the infrastructure in the city is not sufficient for the increasing numbers of vehicles. In a bid to tackle the problem, the authorities have initiated a programme of road widening in various areas of Kathmandu Valley. However, obstructions have been encountered due to residences that have hampered the road expansion process. The widening work includes a 300m section of the Nanigunj Gairidhar road, a 280m section of the Gairidhara Chhata Ganesh road, a 1000m stretch of the Gairidhara-Baluwatar road, a 150m section of the Gairidhara-Police Headquarters link, a 240m stretch of the Chabhil service track, 400m of the Balaju Bypass, 320m of the Maitedevi Setopul road and an 875m section of the Hanumanthan New Baneshwor road. Some 3565m in all is being widened by the Department of Roads. The new roads will have asphalt concrete surfaces as well as 1.5m wide pedestrian pavements on either side.

The road widening action is being carried out in keeping with a supreme court directive along with the Kathmandu Valley Development Authority Act, which took effect on April 13,2012. The Nepalese Government has deputed 200 civil servants at the Kathmandu Valley Town  Development Committee. The authorities say that bulldozing of structures built on encroached land will continue. However, Nepal’s prime minister Dr Baburam Bhattari has criticised the official at the Ministry for physical planning and works over delays in road-widening imitative. In addition, the former mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitian city Keshab Sthapit has been appointed as a commissioner of the newly formed Kathmandu Valley Development Authority (KVDA). Sthapit was the mayor of Kathmandu for five years and now has the remit of ensuring that the road widening work is carried out more effectively.

Related Content

  • Nepal safety issues
    April 27, 2012
    The authorities in Nepal are establishing a road safety plan that is intended to reduce the country’s annual injury and fatality rates. Nepal’s Traffic Police Directorate recently announced figures showing that of the 8,503 accidents recorded in the 2010-2011 financial year, 4,914 occurred within the Kathmandu Valley. The police also said that factors causing accidents included the poor state of gravel and surfaced roads and inadequate traffic signs. Potholes are a major problem on Nepal’s road system accor
  • Nepal's traffic improvements on track
    April 26, 2012
    Nepal's Department of Roads is now analysing traffic data based on research work into congestion carried out by consultants. Two local consulting firms were appointed to carry out a study of flyovers, underpasses and ramps in congested areas.
  • Nepal's road connectivity is pushing ahead
    December 17, 2012
    A new project by the Government of Nepal recently connected Mugu a distant, mountainous and remote district of Karnali Zone to the country’s road connectivity and has been the 73rd district of the 75 in road connection. The road was opened officially by Nepal’s prime minister, Dr Baburam Bhattarai, while The minister for Physical Planning and Transport Management Hrideyesh Tripathy, finance minister Barha Man Pun, chief of army staff Gaurav Shumser Rana and vice-chairman Dipendra Bahadur Chhetri of Nationa
  • Bridge spanning Nepal’s Bagmati River open to traffic
    April 3, 2014
    The bridge linking Old Baneshwor and Sinamangal over the Bagmati River in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu has now been officially opened. This was carried out by the former minister for Physical Planning and Transport although the bridge itself had been open to traffic for five months prior to the inauguration. The old bridge had to be closed after one of the piers subsided in September 2009, a common problem for bridges in Nepal. The Nepalese Government has initiated the new bridge in January 2010. There have be