Odd-even rule disturbs public 

This is with reference to the news story “Odd-even rule for vehicles for four days” (THT, November 28, Page 1). Every time when a major international event takes place in Kathmandu traffic police imposes an odd-even rule for two- and four-wheelers in a bid to manage traffic movement in the Valley.

The odd-even rule is being implemented for four days beginning November 29 to December 2 citing the Asia Pacific Summit to be held here on November 30-December 3. This decision was taken at Home Ministry’s directive to the traffic police. There is no disagreement that the visiting guests should be offered with the best possible convenience during their sojourn in the Capital. But it does not mean that the daily commuters should bear the brunt of the odd-even rule all the time. There are 1.2 million vehicles including 700,000 two-wheelers plying the streets of the Valley.

How can the daily commuters reach their work stations and get back home if the public and private vehicles are cut by half? By imposing the odd-even rule, traffic jam can be reduced by half but it will cause great inconvenience to the public. But what about the work the people do that is cut by almost half? Will the government compensate for the economic losses incurred due to the odd-even rule? It would be better if the traffic police cleared a particular road from where the summit participants pass through only for certain hours informing the public in advance.

Such event can be held in the evening when there is less traffic flow. The traffic police also should learn lessons from other countries where traffic movement is managed efficiently without disturbing the commuters’ daily life and economic activities. Such events can also be held on outskirts of the city. Odd-even rule cannot be considered the best way of managing traffic.

Goma Dhital, Kathmandu   

Town planning

This is with reference to the article “The city & its memory, we are losing them both” (THT, November 27, Page 6). It is very true that our city is losing its natural panorama at large because of haphazard town planning and violation of building codes introduced by the concerned government agencies.

The government should not have myopic vision while planning the towns and cities. It is crucial that the planners should think about what will happen after decades when they make buildings, roads, sewerage system and secure open public spaces that can be used in time of emergency. The core of the Kathmandu Valley had also been built using the traditional methods in a harmonious manner.

When they were built the population of the Valley was less than 100,000. Now, it has soared to four million, thanks to people’s migration from outside the Valley.

Town planning in one particular area, the Kathmandu Valley for example, will not address the problems faced by the modern cities. The government should also make town planning in other municipalities anticipating the possible population growth in the future.

Shiva Neupane, Melbourne