The Ministry of Physical Planning and Works (MoPPW) has already initiated the study to implement the one-year planning that begins from early 2010.
“First interim report for the plan has already been prepared and we have already completed two rounds of discussion with the stakeholders on the modalities and roadmaps of implementing the project. We are currently preparing the second interim report that will be completed by mid-December,” Kamal Raj Pandey, joint secretary at the MoPPW, told myrepublica.com. He said the final report would be completed by April next year.
The project that will come into operation immediately after the report is submitted will focus on sustainable urban transport vision, public transport improvement, improved traffic management and improved pedestrian facility in the capital. Under the project, different modes of transportation such as bus, tempo and micro bus will be arranged in such a way that they will be supplementary to each other and not competitors.
According to the latest report, number of vehicles in the capital has shot up to 444,700 in 2009, up from 308,000 recorded in 2005. More than 74 percent of vehicles plying or the Valley roads are motorcycles.
“We are working on a long-term vision to solve the ever-worsening problem of transport management in the capital, noting that the number of vehicles would almost double to 750,000 in 2021,” Pandey added.
The ever-increasing number of vehicles has made traffic management more difficult in every passing year and the lack of effective policy for traffic and pedestrian management only worsens the situation.
To effectively implement the plan, the government is also seeking assistance from the Global Environment Fund (GEF) -- an international agency that supports initiatives to implement environment-friendly projects.
“We will seek the ways to reduce the per capita emission by encouraging public transport system in the capital to be eco-friendly and we are also planning to get technical assistance from the GEF to implement the project,” added Pandey.
Asian Development Bank (ADB) has already agreed to extend technical support of $20 million under its Regional Technical Assistance (RTA) program to implement the project -- named Kathmandu Urban Transport Project. The ADB is providing an assistance of $900,000 to fund the study.
“The project is also aimed at forging integral efforts from concerned agencies to end the existing duplication of workers in the process of effectively managing transport in the Valley,” Pandey added.
Pandey also informed that a high-level coordination committee will soon be formed under the vice-chairman of National Planning Commission for consolidated efforts from line agencies in improving the transportation system.
prabhakar@myrepublica.com
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