The taskforce has estimated a total budget of Rs 68.25 million for underpass construction, improving intersections, channeling traffic, road marking, maintenance of traffic signal, construction of short access openings and raising awareness about traffic rules. [break]
The government had formed the taskforce under the leadership of the secretary at the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works to undertake short term measures to lessen the traffic congestion in the capital. Senior officials of other line ministries were also in the team.
The taskforce recently submitted its recommendations to Chief Secretary Madhav Prasad Ghimire.
Kamal Raj Pandey, coordinator of a technical group under the committee, told myrepublica.com Chief Secretary Ghimire had assured them of early implementation of the recommendations.
The panel has suggested constructing under-passes at the Bagmati Bridge at Tinkune, Dhobikhola Bridge at Bijuli Bazar, Gongabu Bridge and Bishnumati Bridge at Kalimati within three months.
“We have estimated the cost of opening tracks and graveling on these routes at Rs 258 million,” Pandey said, adding, “We will enforce a provision to bar ´right turn´ on these routes.”
- Construction of underpass at four places
- Intersection improvement
- Lay-bys at six places
- Traffic channeling
- Opening short access in four places
The panel has also recommended implementation of a traffic channeling plan at junctions including Chabahil, Old Baneshwar, Teku (near National Trading Ltd), Jai Nepal Cinema, Tripureshwar-Bhotebhahal route, Tripureshwar and Shital Niwas at Maharajgunj.
The taskforce has proposed a budget of Rs 5 million to upgrade traffic management at these junctions. It has suggested relocating electricity poles, arranging lane dividers, and construction of roundabout at those junctions.
The taskforce has also recommended opening ´short access´ routes from Thapathali to Bagmati, Sifalchaur to Gaushala and Hotel Ambassador to Samakhusi at the estimated cost of Rs 16.5 million.
It has also suggested setting up about 1,000 lane dividers on different roads along with markings on around 5,000 square meters of road at the cost of Rs 6 million and Rs 12.5 million respectively.
It has suggested constructing lay-bys in front of the Central Bureau of Statistics, Nepal Scout at Lainchaur, the Department of Water Supplies, the Social Welfare Council and at Babar Mahal.
Other recommendations include footpath management along 12 routes, including the Putalisadak-Bagbazar and Kamaladi areas, improving traffic signals at major intersections, opening a Maitighar-Bhadrakali route, strict enforcement of traffic rules and discourage parking on roads.
The panel has identified lack of road markings and road dividers, mismanagement of traffic junctions and sidewalks, increasing violation of traffic rules, haphazard parking, insufficient and defunct traffic signals and lack of resources with traffic police as the major factors behind worsening traffic management in the capital.
prabhakar@myrepublica.com
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