1. Jan-Feb 2011

ANALYSIS
Sustainability of
“Kathmandu Sustainable
Urban Transport Project”
Text: Ar. Yatra Sharma
Images: KSUTP report
M
,
, ,
. B
. A
, ADB
“K S U T
P” .
The Project
More people inevitably mean more movement and the striking
increase in number of vehicles in Kathmandu Valley along with its
soaring population is a live example before us. According to a survey
by ADB, there are almost 444,000 registered vehicles in Bagmati
zone, most of which are concentrated in the Valley. It is estimated
that the number of vehicles in the Valley has increased 13 times
(from over 34,000 in 1991 to 450,000 in 2010) in the last decade
and this rate is most likely to accelerate in the coming years!
Issues related to this dramatic growth in vehicular movement have
had much negative effect on the residents of the capital city. Stories
of struggling through the chaos in traffic have become something
of a cliché. Much has been said and heard about the narrowness of
roads, roughness of drivers, greyness of air, carelessness of traffic
control and passiveness of policy makers. But very little has been
done to improve the condition. Amidst this dire situation, a proposal
from ADB called “Kathmandu Sustainable Urban Transport Project”
comes as a beacon of hope.
The proposal holds vision of efficiency in transportation system
which is primarily focused in the central area of Kathmandu.
Boundaries of the central area is considered as Bishnumati and
Bagmati rivers to the west and south, the Dhobi Khola river to the
east and northern perimeter of the former palace to the north.
The scheme of actions incorporates four interrelated aspects whose
expected outcomes are:
• preference of public transportation over private mode,
• improvement on traffic management in central area of
Kathmandu,
• promotion of pedestrian within the central area, and,
• improvement in air quality within the urban area of Kathmandu
and consequently throughout the Valley.
Part of a residential building designed by Prakash. B. Amatya (of SPADECO,
a local architectural firm)
General city routes– Congestion
is worst in the city area of
Kathmandu. Many journeys
across the city are compelled to
use the central area.
Technical assistance for this study was provided by Asian Development
Bank’s Sustainable Transport Initiative (STI) which focuses in
making positive interventions in transport sector by enhancing
energy efficiency, improving transport infrastructure and reducing
Green House Gas emissions. Out of the five pilot cities studied by
this initiative, Kathmandu was one on which this proposal is based.
Formulation of the proposal began on the 5th of October 2009 under
coordination of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works and ended
in mid- April 2010. The project is intended for four years to begin in
February 2010. Financial support for implementation amounts to US$
30.7 Million, out of which ADB shall provide US$ 10 Million as Grant and
a further US$ 10 Million as Loan. Global Environment Facility (GEF) shall
provide a grant of US$ 2.8 Million for environmental aspects and the
rest shall be borne by the government itself. The proposal ensures a
well-coordinated involvement of five related government organizations,
namely Department of Roads (for main roads), Department of
Transport Management (for public transport), Traffic Police (for traffic
control and enforcement), Kathmandu Metropolitan City (for local
roads and footpath) and Ministry of Environment (for air quality).
An Implementation/Steering Committee, chaired by the Secretary
of Ministry of Physical Planning and Works has been established
for initiating the execution and the process of hiring international
consultants is currently underway.
Capacity Building Vs Infrastructure Development
The proposal appears to present a big shift in transportation planning
in Kathmandu by directly gripping on to the root problem of transport
mismanagement and focusing more on capacity building rather than
infrastructure development.
January-February 2011
79
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