KATHMANDU: Lack of overhead crossings and the disappearing marks on the pedestrian crossings in the capital's major thoroughfares have added woes to the pedestrians in recent times.

With the untold number of vehicles and snarl-up of traffic, the stripes and marks on the pedestrian crossings are getting peeled off, bringing untold miseries to pedestrians and motorists alike. The rising incidences of traffic accidents have also been attributed partly on this.

Bikash Shrestha, DSP Metropolitan Traffic Police Division (MTPD), admitted that the heavy traffic flow in congested roads was harrying the pedestrians in the capital city.

"The number of vehicles plying far exceeds the spaces available. Making matter worse motorists and pedestrians hardly abide by traffic rules. It would be better to use zebra cross where there is no overhead bridge," he said. However, one would be amazed at his suggestion of using the 'invisible' zebra crossings in the city roads. Nevertheless, Department of Roads has reassured of painting the Zebra crossing in war-footing soon. Karna Bahadur Ranabhat, engineer Division Road Office said that the government had allocated Rs 3.5 million for the purpose in the current fiscal year. "We are all aware about the state of Zebra crosses. Plans are afoot to paint them soon," he added.

"Thermoplastic paint is used to mark the zebra crossing. It is not sold in Nepali market and the government should make special order to bring it from India or other countries. Against one's estimated cost, it takes more than Rs 35,000 to paint the white stripes for a crossing in a two-way," said engineer Ranabhat. He, however, lamented that sand and garbage dumped close to roads and lack of proper drainage system blurred the stripes in a very short span.