KATHMANDU, July 14

The government has floated a plan to move forward the development activities of the Kathmandu Valley in the form of a ‘package’ to develop it as the national capital after the country adopts federal system. In the budget speech for the fiscal year 2015-16 today, Minister for Finance Ram Sharan Mahat said, “The development of the Kathmandu Valley will be moved forward as a package to make it the national capital after the country enters the federal system. The programmes pointed out by the master plan for the integrated development of the Valley will be gradually implemented.”

According to the budget speech, the programme of planting trees in unused land of the Valley will be conducted as a campaign. “One open space will be managed for each 25,000 population for the arrangement of adequate open space in the Valley. Private and public business enterprises will be encouraged in beautification, landscaping and repair/maintenance of open space under their Corporate Social Responsibility activities,” the budget speech read.

The government has also decided to encourage the private sector to construct and develop underground and multi-storey parking lots in areas designated by the municipal bodies.

“Arrangements will be made to create an environment for operation of markets, restaurants, business transactions and public transportation till late night in line with minimum requirements of a metropolitan city,” said Mahat, adding, “Related agencies will be mobilised in a collaborative manner to make effective arrangements of peace and security.”

The government has also planned to complete the construction works of sewage line along the Sundarijal-Subdarighat stretch of the Bagmati River within next two years.

“While institutionalising the Bagmati River Clean-up Mega Campaign, rivers and rivulets, including the Bishnumati, Rudramati, Manohara, Hanumante and Nakkhu Khola, which remain as the civilisation of the Valley, will be made free of sewage and waste,” said Mahat.

The government in collaboration with municipalities will initiate the construction of 400 public toilets equipped with basic utilities in the Valley.

The government has placed the expansion of Ring Road, and maintenance and repair of road facilities on top priority, while making necessary preparations for the construction of fly-overs in busy traffic intersections of the capital city.

“I have allocated Rs 1.7 billion for making Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel road section a six-lane road,” Minister Mahat said, adding, “I have also allocated Rs 80 million for feasibility study of metro and mono rail to ease traffic pressure in the Valley.”