KATHMANDU: On the occasion of World Bicycle Day on Sunday, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli announced to construct cycle track in Kathmandu Valley. PM Oli assued to develop cycle track in Metropolitan City for the safety and facility of bicycle riders. Many bicycle riders were happy because of the PM’s announcement.
At a time when data are exposed about the pollution triggered by the vehicles operated by petroleum products, the attraction towards bicycle has increased and campaign of using bicycles are raised for pollution awareness.
Ring Road Improvement Project that began in 2013 declared to build the cycle lane along the ring road. The ring road section of Kalanki to Koteshwor was jointly inaugurated by then Vice President Paramanand Jha and Chinese state counsellor Yang Jeichi. The Kalanki-Balkhu section is being blacktopped at the final stage of project.
According to project information officer Niranjan Adhikari, all the works except fininshing of Kalanki underpass and backtopping of this area have been completed. Then final stage of blacktopping from Kalanki to Koteshwor will be completed.
The 27km section of Ring Road was planned to develop the road with eight lanes along with cycle lane. Low and high speed lanes are separated as well as sevice lanes. However, the plan to develop cycle lane was terminated in the middle of the project period.
Aryal argued that number of bicycle users is low in Kathmandu. “The geographical structure is also not favourable for bicycles here,” he said. “that’s why plan of cycle lane was terminated.”
The Ring Road was built in 1970 with the cooperation from China Government. The agreement to improve the road was signed in December 18, 2012. The project period ends on July 31, 2018. However, Chinese contractor has demanded deadline of December, according to Aryal.
