‘Expedite development of satellite cities’

Kathmandu, October 25

The Ministry of Urban Development has directed all divisions under the ministry and Department of Urban Development and Building Construction to implement the October 12 directive of the Development Committee of the dissolved Parliament.

The parliamentary committee had directed the government and concerned ministries, including the MoUD, to develop and implement action plan regarding land pooling, mapping and Project Development Agreement and Detailed Project Report of proposed four satellite cities in the Valley within one year.

The government had decided to develop four satellite cities in as many cardinal directions of the Valley. Of the total estimated budget, private sector and public sector will bear Rs 400 billion and Rs 100 billion respectively. “Structures of the city will be developed with participation of private landowners through land pooling system,” read a report published by the MoUD.

A satellite city proposed to the northeast of Kathmandu will spread over 100,000 ropani land and will be developed at an estimated cost of Rs 500 billion.Similarly, it is estimated to cost a total Rs 50 billion to develop and manage physical infrastructure of three satellite cities to the southwest, southeast and north of Kathmandu. They will spread over 10,000 ropanis of land each. Of the total budget, private sector will contribute Rs 40 billion while public and sector will invest Rs 10 billion.

The development project will be moved forward after preparing a Detailed Project Report soon, said the MoUD. The government has accorded first priority to the satellite city to the northeast of Kathmandu. Satellite cities are expected to systematically check unplanned, imbalanced and haphazard development of the Valley. Since all facilities will be available in satellite cities, people needn’t stay in core areas after the satellite cities are developed.