1. Jan-Feb 2011

OPINION
Kathmandu Sustainable Urban Transport Project
Sustainable Transport Initiative (STI) is an assistance program launched by Asian Development
Bank (ADB) in 2006. This initiative aims to enhance interventions in transportation sector and
incorporate issues such as infrastructure, services, energy efficiency and pollution reduction
as well. Five pilot cities were examined under the STI, and Kathmandu was one of them.
Consulting with the relevant departments, the assistance, coordinated by the Ministry of
Physical Planning and Works, began on 5th October 2009 and was completed mid-April 2010.
The Bank support for the project, which shall initiate in 2011, will be spread over four years time.
The support shall be forthcoming in the form of a US$ 10 Million Grant and a US$ 10 Million Loan.
An additional grant of US$ 2.8 Million shall be contributed by the Global Environment Facility.
The project, along with the contribution by the government, amounts to US$ 30.7 Million.
While an analysis on the project has been presented earlier in this issue, find here,
comments and views on the project, of members of three important professional
bodies of the country – Nepal Engineers Association (NEA), Society of Nepalese
Architects (SONA) and Regional and Urban Planners Society of Nepal (RUPSON):
Kathmandu Sustainable Urban Transport Project –
How Sustainable is it?
Implementation may be challenging - NEA
First of all, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to David Irwin
and his team for their arduous efforts in preparing this report. The
report basically comprises the vision of sustainable urban transport
in Kathmandu, focusing mainly on operations of public transport,
traffic management plan, introducing pedestrian areas as well as
improvement of air quality of the city. The report also attempts to
reveal the present situation of traffic congestion of Kathmandu and
its implications. Moreover, the report blames the managerial aspect
for this result, which to a large extent is acceptable.
Regarding urban transport vision, the report suggests a model of
public private partnership which may encourage all the stakeholders
for their contribution and participation resulting in the system to
be more sustainable. To improve public transportation system in
Kathmandu, the report envisages promoting electric and trolley bus
with conditions of scrapping existing buses or sending them out of
the Valley. But, based on experiences as well as the electric power
scenario of the country, its implementation may be challenging.
Er. Mukesh R Kafle
(mrkafle@yahoo.com)
Dy. General Secretary,
Nepal Engineers' Association.
In addition, in component A: public transport section, a new bus terminal on the west side
of Tundikhel and the plan for redevelopment of the old Bus Park for the Valley service is
proposed as a part of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) in partnership with the private
sector. The existing institutional capacity of KMC puts the implementation in doubt.
In essence, the proposed plan definitely helps to improve the traffic management system
in Kathmandu Valley thus helping to ease the daily life. It may really contribute to improve
the aesthetics of the city, thus converting the will of the Nepali people to see the capital as a
"dream city". But, there are many constraints to achieve this goal. The Government of Nepal
and all its stakeholders should have very strong commitments on it. Nevertheless, let us try
to live in optimism.
www.spacesnepal.com 82
January-February 2011