The vision of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) mayor Keshab Sthapit to build an inner-ring road a few years ago may actually finally be taking concrete shape. Building link roads on the banks of Dhobikhola, Bishnumati and Bagmati corridor will form the inner-ring road. Upon completion, it is hoped that the inner-road will smooth out traffic congestion in the city and also create shorter routes.

The Kathmandu Valley Mapping Programme (KVMP) is conducting preliminary studies as to whether the inner-ring road can follow the course of Dhobikhola, which will eventually be linked up to a section of the road along Bishnumati, where the initial phase of construction is already underway.

According to a KVMP official, demolition of houses in Tahachal, near the banks of Bishnumati river is already being carried out. Dhobikhola and Bishnumati link roads come under KMC, whereas the Bagmati corridor does not fall under KMC.

“Although we are carrying out preliminary studies in the areas of road alignment, sewage system, trunk sewer and river training, KMC will implement the projects with local participation,” said national co-director of KVMP, Padma Sunder Joshi. Talking to The Himalayan Times, he pointed out that KMC plans to implement the projects through local participation. It will take a minimum of 2 years to complete the construction.

“In terms of transport management, inner ring-road is a must in Kathmandu,” said Joshi. It will connect major roads of North and South. For instance, Bishnumati road link will connect Balaju, Shobhabhagwati, Dallu to Kalimati, whereas Dhobikhola link road will connect Chabahil, Handigaon and Maitidevi among others.

However, apart from developing bicycle lanes from Tinkune, Maitighar and around Tundikhel, constructing such lanes along the inner-road is also in the pipeline. This idea has been conceptualised to encourage a free flow of non-polluting bicycle traffic. Experts point out this idea has been developed keeping the safety of cyclists in mind.