Ratna Park offers free Wi-Fi to visitors

Kathmandu, March 18

Visitors to Ratna Park, one of the oldest and busiest parks in the capital, will now enjoy free Wi-Fi.

Ratna Park, which remained closed for around a year for renovation, was reopened to the public on June 30, 2015.

Rabin Man Shrestha, chief of Environment Management Division at the Office of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, said free Wi-Fi service was provided to attract more visitors by installing wireless devices at the cost of Rs 300,000.

KMC has a plan to provide 4mbps link on Saturday and other public holidays and 2mbps on other days. “Starting today, free Wi-Fi is available to park-goers.

Visitors will now be able to stay connected to the Internet, while enjoying the park’s amenities,” he informed.

After the reopening of the park, the authorities had fixed an entry fee of Rs 25 per person. Students bearing ID cards are entitled to a discount of Rs 10, while children below five years of age, senior citizens and persons with disabilities will be allowed free entry.

Around 1,000 people visit the park everyday. With the park now offering free Wi-Fi, the number of visitors to the park is expected to increase, said the metropolis.

This park serves as an open space in the congested capital city while providing a resting place for travellers and pedestrians.

KMC had given a facelift to the park with a budget of approximately Rs 8 million under the ‘Green Kathmandu and Open Space Development Campaign’.

The park has been upgraded with child-friendly playground, recreational facilities, gardens and toilets. The park spreads over 42 ropanis of land.

Resting platforms, ponds, fountains and footpaths have also been constructed. The park opens at 8:00 am and is closed at 6:00 pm. KMC expects to collect approximately Rs 4.5 million from the park annually.