KATHMANDU- Koteshwar-Kalanki section of Ring Road has become unsafe for the pedestrians due to the lack of sufficient zebra crossing, forcing commuters to cross road at their own risks.
In this eight-lane road, there is not even a single zebra crossing along 10.39 km road. Sita Budhathoki, who was crossing the road infront of Transport Management Office at Ekantakuna of Lalitpur, said, “There is neither zebra-crossing nor pedestrian bridge. We have to save ourselves from high speeding vehicles high.”
Along Koteshwar-Kalanki section, there only three pedestrian bridges at Bagdole, Gwarko and Koteshwar respectively, which is insufficient in this highly, populated area. “There is no zebra crossing and sufficient pedestrian bridges. Where do we cross the road? Many people come and go along this section,” said Manish Manandhar.
“Bus stops at a place while we have to go other side. There is high risk of accident while crossing the roads to take buses and conduct other works. It is very difficult for us to cross road. How do the elderly people feel about it?”
The people going to office or schools have faced tough troubles to cross the roads, said Arjun Karki. “We are traumatized while crossing the road.
Environmental Expert Bhushan Tuladhar said, “Forty percent of travelling in the Kathmandu Valley is based on walking on foot. Majority of people walk on foot. The bus riders also need to cross the roads. Forty-50 percent of accident death casualties are commuters.”
“They cross the roads directly from where they are. It increases the possibility of accidents,” he said.
Jaya Raj Sapkota, Spokesperson at Metropolitan Traffic Police Division, said that 615 accidents occurred along Koteshwar-Kalanki section during first three months of the current fiscal year.
Ten people died in the accidents while 23 were seriously injured and 445 were generally wounded. According to him, the accidents are increasing due to lack of zebra crossings and pedestrian bridges. “They cross the roads by taking risks,” said Sapkota.
Sujan Khanal, chief of Ring Road Improvement Project said Chinese contractor is at the final stage of blacktopping the Koteshwar-Kalanki road. After completion of blacktopping, zebra crossings will be marked, he said. “Chinese company will hand over the road by the end of December by completing the road construction.”
