Nov 11, 2018-
The High Powered Committee for Integrated Development of the Bagmati Civilization has started installing 430 solar street lamps along an eight-kilometre segment of Bagmati corridor from Sinamangal to Kupondole. Around Rs 60 million will be spent on the installation of solar lamps, according to officials.
The committee, under the Ministry of Urban Development, has already installed street lamps along the left side of Bagmati river from Tinkune to Mahadevsthan. According to the committee, installation of the remaining solar lamps from Sankhamul to Thapathali bridge will be completed within the next two months.
The Bagmati corridor has seen an increase in traffic flow after the road was asphalted two years ago.
“The traffic in Bagmati corridor has significantly increased in the last two years. That is why we saw the necessity of solar lamps along the road,” said Prabhat Shrestha, a senior divisional engineer at HPCIDBC.
“Though the roads are clean and the area is peaceful, it is difficult for people to walk during night times,” said Netra Bhandari, a restaurant owner in Sankhamul. “Now that the lights are getting installed, I am sure people’s mobility will increase. Local businesses in the area will benefit from this project.”
Even the traffic police have welcomed the HPCIDBC’s move.
“Installation of solar lamps will likely lessen the number of night accidents in the corridor,” said Durga Khanal, Sub-inspector at Metropolitan Traffic Police Range Koteshwor. According to Khanal, the road section sees an average of seven accidents in a week.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
