TTDC urges local representatives to restore beauty of Thamel

KATHMANDU, June 20: Tourism stakeholders of Thamel have urged the newly elected mayor, deputy mayor and chairmen of different ward offices to do the needful for making Thamel a happening destination for tourists.

Speaking at an interaction with newly elected mayor, deputy mayor and chairmen, they requested the local units to arrange proper parking space, manage electricity, telecommunications and television cable wires, and control late night crowd at the tourist hub.

Rajuman Dangol, the vice president of Thamel Tourism Development Committee (TTDC), urged mayor and deputy mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) to immediately start work for better management of Thamel. “Unmanaged parking, late night crowd, tangled electric and telecommunication wires, and bard roads are the major problems that we are facing. We request the mayor, deputy mayor and concerned ward chairmen to take the issue seriously,” he added.

On the occasion, Karna Shakya, a tourism expert, said that he was hopeful that the new local representatives would work to beautify Thamel. “Our local representatives are energetic and capable. We only need to support them,” he said, adding: “Thamel is a self-dependent tourist zone in Kathmandu Valley. Over the past three or four decades, it has stood on its own, establishing itself as self-driven tourist area.” 

At the program, Khem Adhikari, chairperson of Ward No. 26, committed to provide full support to locals and entrepreneurs for improvement of Thamel. Addressing the entrepreneurs, he said: “As this is your workplace, you should take initiation for its improvement. We will be always support you in your mission to make Thamel a tourism hub in the country,” he added.

Similarly, Mukunda Rijal, chairperson of Ward No. 16, said Thamel is in dire need of parking spaces. “Similarly, it is high time restaurants and pubs installed sound-proofing walls in their premises so that their music does not disturb others,” he said, adding that there is also a need to install CCTV cameras in major thoroughfares and build washrooms. He also vowed to make Thamel a vehicle-free zone.

KMC Mayor Bidhya Sundar Shakya said the metropolis would spare no effort to make Thamel a happening destination in the country. “We are not here to rule you. People will feel the change very soon,” he said, adding: “All stakeholders and general public should work in coordination to make Kathmandu a better city.”

At the program, TTDC honored Kulman Ghising, the executive director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) in recognition of his remarkable contribution to end load-shedding. 

Speaking at the program, Ghising said his next target is to launch massive electrification drive as still 40 percent of the population does not have access to electricity.