KATHMANDU, August 18: The government has prepared an ambitious 35-point master plan requiring more than Rs 500 billion in investment to improve infrastructure development and public transport services in the Kathmandu Valley.
If implemented, the plan would bring major infrastructure projects to dozens of locations across the Valley, including metro rail, double-decker underground tunnels, elevated roads and flyovers, new bridges and corridor upgrades.
The master plan has been prepared by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA. Joint Secretary and former Director General of the Department of Roads Sushil Babu Dhakal is leading the work on behalf of the ministry.
Dhakal said the plan will move into implementation once the government approves it. An initial feasibility study is currently underway. The ministry is also preparing to issue a public notice and seek suggestions from the public on the proposed plan.
The master plan has been divided into three phases: short term, targeting 2032, medium term, targeting 2040, and long term, targeting 2050.
82 per cent work under Lumbini Master Plan completed
According to Dhakal, 35 projects have been proposed, including 22 focused on infrastructure development and 13 on improving transport services.
The proposals include construction and expansion of roads and bridges for mass transportation, including underground tunnels and elevated roads and bridges. They also cover traffic management measures such as improving intersections and traffic signals, establishing vehicle free zones, and upgrading bus services through improvements to bus routes and bus terminals.
The plan proposes an underpass at Maharajgunj and a double decker underground tunnel between Chabahil and Gaushala.
Other proposed projects include expansion of the Ring Road along the Gaushala to Tinkune section, a new river corridor between Thapathali and Tripureshwor, improvement of the unpaved road along the Bagmati riverbank, expansion of the UN Park bridge, and construction of new bridges over the Bishnumati, Dhobikhola, Karmanasa and Gwarko rivers.
A new Bagmati bridge at Thapathali and the construction of the Balaju Bishnumati river corridor road to connect major urban centres are also included in the plan.
The master plan seeks to shift people from motorcycles to public transport by improving public transport services. It proposes strengthening road capacity and connectivity to improve bus efficiency and service quality, improving access outside the Ring Road and managing traffic demand inside the Ring Road.
The plan states that a high demand east west corridor, provisionally named the Ratna Park Bhaktapur corridor, will be developed based on traffic demand forecasts. The corridor would be approximately 14.6 kilometres long and is expected to adopt a metro rail system.
The section through the urban core and around Koteshwor intersection would be developed underground, while other sections would use elevated structures within the existing road right of way.
The target is to bring the system into operation around 2040. The plan will also consider future expansion, integration with other public transport systems and the concept of transit-oriented development.
Other proposals include establishing a utility corridor network along major roads, developing cycle routes and road safety projects, and turning Thamel and the Durbar Square areas of Kathmandu and Lalitpur metropolitan cities into vehicle free zones.
The plan also proposes improving major road intersections, developing an emergency road network and managing off street parking.
Dhakal, who is leading the master plan preparation on behalf of the ministry, said the plan aims to improve infrastructure and public transport in the Kathmandu Valley through the development of better systems and technology.
The ministry estimates that the Kathmandu Valley will have a population of 4.2 million by 2050. It says the master plan has been prepared to upgrade infrastructure and transport services to meet the needs of that projected population.
