KATHMANDU, April 11: The government has put forward a plan to illuminate major cities of the country, including the Kathmandu Valley. As part of this initiative, plans are underway to install modern street lights along the main city streets. Additionally, modern traffic lights will be installed along busy roadways.
For the first time, the government has planned to install modern lights to increase electricity efficiency and ensure round-the-clock functionality in urban areas.
Lights Out
The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT) will take the lead in implementing the plan. Modern and systematic lighting will be installed on the main city streets.
Currently, MoPIT is in the process of securing the necessary budget and determining the locations and quantity of lights to be installed in each city.
Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Raghubir Mahaseth, revealed that plans are in place to commence installing modern traffic lights in major cities, including the Kathmandu Valley, starting from mid-July. Details regarding the installation locations and procedures will be finalized in collaboration with the Department of Roads and traffic police before installation.
"We are initiating the modernization of the lighting system by mid-July, starting with a pilot project in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur," Mahaseth stated. "After that, we aim to extend this project to cities beyond the valley, such as Pokhara, Nepalgunj, Biratnagar, Janakpur, Birgunj, and others," he added.
For that, the government has also said that it will allocate the budget from the next fiscal year 2024/25. "The ministry is currently working on expanding the modern traffic light system as part of the initial pilot project," said a ministry source. According to sources, it is estimated that more than Rs 100 million will be required for the modernization of lighting systems in major cities.
