Kathmandu, August 30

If everything goes as planned, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City will soon construct a 2km cobblestone heritage walkway at Teku Dobhan-Kalmochan Ghat.

Earlier, the April 25 earthquake had interrupted construction of the walkway. Reconstruction of heritage sites in the aftermath of the April 25 quake had delayed construction of the walkway.

Shriju Pradhan, chief of the Heritage Conservation and Tourism Promotion Section at KMC, said the Bagmati Riverbank will be furbished with parks along with the walkway. The walkway will have benches and resting platforms for visitors to rest and relax. Construction of restaurant, installation of information boards, and restricting sign boards are also on the cards.

Hutaram Baidhya Memorial Environmental Park will also be constructed in memory of Hutaram Baidhya, who began the Bagmati River restoration drive. “As one of the aspect of Bangmati Hangout Campaign, the walkway will be a meeting point for the people of Lalitpur and Kathmandu,” said Pradhan, stating that the visitors can cycle, exercise, walk, rest, and meditate at the site.

KMC has been busy preparing the inventory of temples and artifacts of heritages standing on the premises of Teku Dobhan-Kalmochan Ghat. Architects, engineers, cultural enthusiasts, and art historians have been carrying out post-earthquake damage assessment for a week in the area for digital documentation.

“The artifacts are in a sorry state after the disaster, but the inventory will ensure their protection,” Pradhan said, adding, “The Asian Development Bank is working out to fund the construction of heritage walkway in consultation with Kathmandu Sustainable Urban Transport Project.”

KMC had prohibited the entry of motorised vehicles from Teku Dobhan-Kalmochan Ghat in order to execute the foundation works of the walkway earlier this month.

Narayan Babu Bhattarai, chief of Building and Heritage Department at KMC, complained that people recklessly continue to ply motorized vehicles along the dirt road of Teku Dobhan-Kalmochan Ghat. “The walkway is for pedestrians and cycling. It is vulnerable to motorized vehicles,” Bhattarai said. The technical support for its construction will be provided by the Department of Archaeology, whereas KMC will oversee the construction part.