Kathmandu, April 5

The National Urban Development Strategy, 2017 has stated that its main objective is to indicate desirable conditions on each theme of urban infrastructure, environment, economy, investment and finance, and governance.

While it places emphasis on physical planning aspects, there is also an appreciation of the fact that an urban area is not merely a physical construct, it is as much a political, social and cultural construct.

“A broader perspective on urban transportation is proposed. Strategies include integration of land use and transportation as well as regional planning and development of related institutional mechanisms, provision of hierarchically balanced urban road infrastructure and promotion of sustainable urban public transport. In prioritised regions, the provision of high-speed inter-urban transport infrastructure is also proposed,” it said.

According to National Urban Development Strategy, provision of affordable, adequate and safe housing is the objective of the urban housing sector.

Strategies include facilitating the private sector to provide housing to the economically weaker sections, regularising standards of group housing, and promoting innovative, economic and environment-friendly buildings.

Strategies to discourage squatter settlement and encroachment; encourage cooperative mechanisms for production of housing for the economically weaker sections; and facilitate the production of serviced land through public-private/community partnership have also been proposed, it read.

Similarly, provision of adequate, reliable, efficient and green energy is the major objective in the energy sector. Strategies include development of hydro-power projects in consideration of urban locations, promotion of optimal use of solar energy, passive design and energy efficient building materials.

Promotion of urban agriculture; maintenance of minimum forest cover and stipulated open space in urban areas; preservation of heritage sites as well as museums tied with local economy in old urban areas; promotion of innovative art, architecture and culture in new urban areas; and facilitation of community and civil society organisations are among the things proposed by the National Urban Development strategy.