Himalayan News Service:

Kathmandu, January 20

A traffic signal is in a dilapidated condition in the heart of Kathmandu at Nagsthan, Sundhara, for the last seven years. The Kathmandu Metropolitan City, the ward office concerned and the Department of Roads are doing nothing to fix the pole which can collapse at any time and injure many people. Simla Shrestha, who is working at Angel Travels for the last 15 years, said the pole was installed by a Japanese company seven years ago. “After a few months of its installation, a bus hit it and it bent towards our shop,” she informed. She added that the KMC officers and city police personnel, who around regularly, never tried to fix it. Ram KC, a local of Nagsthan, said the bent pole was creating problem in the busy area and that its base was in a dilapidated condition. “The pole can injure many people if it collapses,” he said.

He also said street vendors stumble upon the pole when chased by the city police personnel. “Even motorbikes hit the pole sometimes because it is in inclined,” he said.

Who’s responsible:

If a complaint is registered, we can coordinate with the traffic police, Nepal Electricity Authority, Nepal Telecom and cable operators on the basis of the complaint. We will remove or replace it if any complaint is registered.But no complaint has been lodged till date.

— Narayan Babu Bhattarai Division ChiefPhysical Infrastructure Division, KMC