[sustran] Re: News Flash #37: Transport in the 'Global South'

[Jain Alok]

Kathmandu was such a lovely city just a few years ago. Although the public
transport was not good and there were not many cars, but the whole city used
to walk and these things didn't really matter. I remember a study was done
by Wilbur Smith Associates (if I remeber correctly) on the city's transport
behaviour and an astounding number of trips (75%, I guess) were walk trips.

Been there recently and the city is polluted (thats probably an
understatement). The Bagmati river which probably inspired many ascetics
towards divine force was no more than a sewer. The city is cluttered by
scrapped Japanese cars (most of the taxis). The public transport is worse.
Basically, one could see all the so called urban problems. This was GROWTH.
Perhaps politics in the country is to blame, at least partly.

I wonder if Kathmandu can again become a walking city.

Alok Jain

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rajendra Aryal [mailto:rajendra.aryal at undp.org]
> Sent: March 24, 2000 2:12 PM
> To: sustran-discuss at jca.ax.apc.org
> Subject: [sustran] Re: News Flash #37: Transport in the 'Global South'
> 
> 
> Dear friends,
> 
> Kathmandu, capital city of Nepal, after badly hit by a 
> haphazard traffic condition
> some positive trends on better traffic management are 
> appearing. One of the moves
> the Traffic Police is undertaking now is the follwing 
> newspaper clipping appeared
> in the leading daily "The Kathmandu Post" to improve the 
> traffic condiiton of the
> city.
> 
> Kathmandu, March 20 (PR) - Valley Traffic Police (VTPO) today 
> urged the public to
> suggest ways to improve traffic condition in the capital.
> 
> "The suggestions from the people, if constructive, will be 
> implemented so that
> people's views are also taken into account while making the 
> strategy of VTPO,"
> said Pawan Kharel, Deputy Superintendent of Police at the VTPO.
> 
> VTPO has set up a Traffic Control Room to both monitor and 
> implement the ideas
> received from the public. VTPO is seeking the suggestions 
> through phone, fax and
> email for the Traffic Week slated for the third week of May.
> 
> With regards.
> 
> Rajendra Aryal
> UNCDF
>