Spaces Vol 1 Is 6

REPORT
PROPOSED OUTER RING ROAD
The proposed Outer Ring Road of Kathmandu Valley has
been a topic of debate among planners and architects. Whereas
the planners are divided on the issue, architects are expecting
a lot of opportunities in Kathmandu once the project takes
off formally. In reality, the
Outer Ring Road will change
the cityscape of Kathmandu
and if not planned properly, it
may encourage unprecedented
urban sprawl.
The chaotic situation in the
existing Ring Road needs to be
carefully studied while designing
the proposed road. The
challenge for planners and road
engineers is not only to create a trunk road or a fast track for
the city, but also to create an urban arterial road, which will
serve both the urban and rural areas of the Valley. It has to
link the traditional settlements of the Valley which have good
potential for tourism development.
KATHMANDU VALLEY
The idea of the Outer Ring Road was mooted about four
years ago when the Department of Roads conducted a
feasibility study of the road and prepared a report. The study
was followed by a short review of the project in terms of
urban development. The
review was guided by the
proposal for future land
pooling sites in the three
districts of the Valley
including the proposed
new town of Harisidhhi.
Moreover, the JICA report
of 1993 has clearly
underlined the need for a
link road from Lubhu of
Lalitpur to Gokarna of
Kathmandu. Since the existing Ring Road has been located
in the northwest part of Kathmandu Valley, accessibility is
very poor on the newly expanding settlements in Lalitpur
and Kathmandu. The metropolitan areas of Kathmandu
Valley are expanding towards east and south and those areas
The rationale of constructing the Outer
Ring Road lies more on integrated
infrastructure development rather than
being merely a highway project
Text: Ar. Kishore Thapa, ORR Project
Courtesy: Kishore Thapa.
86 SEP-OCT 2005 SPACES