NOVEMBER 6

We all know that the public transportation system in Kathmandu is at the best passable. It is passable because at the end of the day, even with a lot of hassles and challenges, you can move from one point to another one. Yes, I am definitely quite magnanimous in judging the system, and I know that many might disagree with my overgenerous assessment. For sure we can all agree that it could be better.

During the recent Dipawali holidays, it happened that I and my wife had to visit, like many other thousands and thousands of citizens of the Valley, the New Road area. In the late afternoon or early evening, it was extremely difficult to come by a micro bus or even the benchmark of public transportation excellence in Nepal, a bus from Sajha Yatayat. There is nothing surprising in this because as a matter of fact, travelling in the late afternoon and early evening, forget the night, is always challenging.

Yet, perhaps there are relatively simple ways of changing this situation and 'unblock' the status quo.

These could be some suggestions that, perhaps, the new administrations managing the valley's municipalities, including Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Lalitpur Sub Metropolitan City, could take into account.

For example, I do not think it is really impossible to have a dialogue with the transportation unions and all the representatives of micros, tempos and the different cooperatives managing several major routes within the valley, to extend their services during special events or days, including the days prior to some major festivals.

Let's set aside having public transportation in the night after 9 pm. It is not that it is not needed - it is really important for a metropolis like Kathmandu to have a decent night transportation system - but let's go step by step, gradually.

We could start with the above-mentioned special occasions when people will hit the roads in massive ways, and we know that public transportation can really play a big role because transportation apps or taxis should be just some features of a wider public transportation system rather than the default option when you can't find a way to get home.

During these intense and frenetic days, it should be easy to find a public bus or micro up to at least 8 pm. It would be also good business for the owners and entrepreneurs running these public vehicles even though it would be unwise on their part, considering how expensive is now to travel in public vehicles, to ask for an added on fare on the normal 'ticket' now being charged.

Similarly, the same should apply to every week days, making it possible to travel by public vehicles up to 8 pm seamlessly and effortlessly.

Ideally it is not an impossible task to extend a bit of the public vehicles' timelines up to 8.30 pm, or 8.15 pm, but let's not get carried away too quickly and too fast.

Let's start by ensuring that someone can safely assume that she will easily (it means not overcrowded like it often happens with the last runs of the day) find a vehicle up to 8 pm. Then, the so-called 'hubs' like Kathmandu Mall/New Road Gate, Ratna Park, New Bus Park in Gangabu should be organised a little bit better.

Following the logic of gradual steps, let's not imagine completely revamped urban spaces tailored for easy and convenient public commuting.

Let's instead think of small actions that could make it easier for people, including tourists (let's not assume that all tourists are ready to pay high fares with taxis all the time), to easily identify the routes and the stops where the related public vehicles wait for their customers.

The Kathmandu Mall/ New Road Gate hub is and has always been a mess in terms of helping a citizen understand where she can get the right public means that would bring her to her destination. If you think about it, organizing a proper display system (to start with, we do not need an automated, electronic one that gives real time information but just some signboards) is not really a 'mission impossible'.

Talking about routes, we should not forget that years ago JICA, the Japanese official development cooperation agency, had come up with a very detailed plan on how to better organise the viability of the valley from a public transportation perspective.

It was a real blueprint on how to arrange and organise different 'lines' of public transportation movements across the entire capital. I am sure it is a pretty worthy study with a lot of interesting and useful propositions that could be arranged and introduced in a phased manner.

The bottom line of this article is that we do not need, to start with, huge investments to improve the public transportation network in the valley. We just need some practical ideas to start with that can be a 'win' for all, which can garner a relatively easy consensus among all the stakeholders.

In this stage, the elected officials and their teams also have to set standards and 'sine qua non' key parameters to enhance the experience of those travelling with public vehicles.

Standards means enforcing rules about where it is not allowed for a public vehicle to stop to collect passengers, rules about the number of people allowed in one vehicle and also safe ways of driving.

There are plenty of very young drivers behind the wheel who should be taught the basics, including the responsibilities they have towards their customers and also the penalties they would incur in case of transgression of the rules.

Admittedly setting these rules and enforcing standards might be the most complicated thing to do in starting to implement a better public transportation system across the roads of the Kathmandu Valley.

Yet with the right persuasion and training (yes, training and in this regard what about introducing a mandatory mini course for all the drivers hitting the streets of the capital and suburbs?), change is not impossible and must be demanded and most importantly pursued.

Hopefully the newly elected urban leaders will be able to untangle this mess and show us some public leadership.

Talking about routes, we should not forget that years ago JICA, the Japanese official development cooperation agency, had come up with a very detailed plan

A version of this article appears in the print on November 7, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.