Kathmandu, November 14

In a bid to address the high flow of pedestrians in Chabahil and Maitighar chowks, Kathmandu Metropolitan City is preparing to build overhead bridges for pedestrians in these places. KMC has allocated a budget of Rs 120 million for the same for the current fiscal.

Chief of Physical Infrastructure Division at KMC Ram Bahadur Thapa said construction of overhead bridges in Chabahil and Maitighar would begin soon. KMC is preparing to publish a tender notice calling applications from contractors to construct overhead bridges in Chabahil and Maitighar after Chhath. Thapa added that identification of more places in the valley where such bridges were needed would also be done in the coming days.

KMC has developed designs of the planned bridges in Chabahil and Maitighar and the appointed contractor will have to construct the bridges based on the same design. The bridges are temporary in nature as they can be dismantled when needed, said Thapa.

Along with Chabahil and Maitighar, Thapa opined that similar bridges needed to be constructed in Koteshwor, Thapathali, Putalisadak, Gaushala, Teku and Maharajgunj.

Thapa also informed that plans were under way to upgrade and reconstruct the existing overhead pedestrian bridges that are in operation within KMC. “Most of the existing bridges were built many years ago. These bridges need to be upgraded,” said Thapa. Currently, there are overhead bridges in Sundhara, in front of Bir Hospital, Old Bus Park, Ratnapark and New Bus Park. KMC believes that the private sector should take the responsibility of upgrading them.

Meanwhile, Thapa informed that advertisements will not be allowed in the new overpasses and will also be discouraged in the existing bridges as they had marred the city’s beauty.