The government has begun preliminary work on the Kathmandu Valley Urban Transport System Master Plan, a long-term strategy to tackle traffic congestion, road safety concerns, air pollution and inadequate public transport in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur.
The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has prepared initial documents for the plan. A draft Strategic Environmental Assessment Report, prepared jointly with experts from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has also been made public, according to Khabarhub and Onlinekhabar.
What the transport plan proposes
The master plan aims to develop a safe, inclusive and sustainable transport system for the Kathmandu Valley. Its proposals include:
- Mass transit systems
- Tunnels
- Car-free zones
A long-term strategy for the valley
The plan is intended to address several connected transport challenges across the three districts: congestion, road safety, air pollution and limited public transport. The public release of the draft environmental assessment is part of the preliminary work now under way.
