Aims to create 5,000 jobs, set up affordable pharmacies
KATHMANDU, JUNE 22
Kathmandu Metropolitan City, unveiling its ambitious plans and policies for coming fiscal year has presented a rosy picture of creating 5,000 jobs, among others promises like establishing affordable pharmacies inside all 32 wards in coordination with the ward level community hospitals.
Mayor Balendra Shah, announcing the annual plans and policies for the fiscal year 2023-24, presented an ambitious roadmap that includes several transformative initiatives.
These include transforming the physical look of the metropolis by vastly increasing urban tree plantations, roads and pavement management, clean rivers, inundation free cities, and preserving traditional and archaeologically important infrastructures, among others.
Emphasising a long-term vision of a culturally vibrant city and a thriving metropolis, Mayor Shah outlined the primary objective of the 19-page plans and policies: to initiate agro-pooling in at least one municipality, thereby achieving self-sufficiency in organic food production and vegetables.
Moreover, there are plans to export branded local beverages and traditional products, with the aim of positioning Kathmandu as a culturally rich and tourist-friendly city, while significantly boosting the number of visitors.
KMC also highlighted the intention to digitise public transport system, vehicle parking facilities, and service operations throughout the metropolis. The introduction of home delivery services, e-rental platforms, and a metromart concept will be instrumental in serving the city's residents. Additionally, a revenue mobilisation campaign will be launched, which is expected to substantially increase internal revenue streams. Mayor Balendra Sah expressed his determination to convert all roads within the metropolitan area into wellpaved ones, eliminate potholes, and construct at least one playground and one park in each ward.
Mayor Shah also made commitment to complete 10 KMC pride projects within three years, benefiting the maximum population. Through these projects, KMC aspires to establish itself as a culture-rich and prosperous metropolis, effectively addressing major challenges and fostering a safe, professional, and orderly urban environment. Mayor Shah underscored the allocation of adequate funding to progressively develop local cities into smart cities.
Mayor Shah, addressing the municipal assembly, said that the 'Book Free Friday' programme he initiated helped students in the municipality get vocational education, over 13,000 students received scholarships in private schools, over 10,000 students received free ambulance service in the last one year, managed the unmanaged wires inside the city, allowed long route transportation from Gongabu area only, hired engineers, police and employees as temporary staff, removed illegal parking from over 180,000 square feet blacktopped roads, took action against nearly 17,000 erring vehicles and removed over 18,000 hoarding boards.
KMC garnered applaud when it collected above average revenue this fiscal. However, the KMC's capital expenditure was just 12 per cent this fiscal, which suggests that the promises and plans for the coming fiscal might sound too good to come true especially since it is lagging behind in capital expenditure.
A version of this article appears in the print on June 23, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
