There are rumors we might get a metro system or sky train in Kathmandu. Wouldn’t that be interesting? I think it is quite clear an underground metro would not be suitable in the unstable ground underneath a city that sits not only on a dried out lake, but a seismic fault. But a feasibility study has been done as to whether we might be able to install an electric skytrain. Off the top of my head the monorail/skytrain will run from Tilganga Eye Hospital to Shahid Gate and on to Koteshwor. But don’t quote me… I might be dreaming!What I didn’t imagine was an electric bus system, the trolleybus, which used to run various places around the city and its outskirts. In fact, on my first visit to Kathmandu in 1990 I rode that bus to Bhaktapur. And it ran through agriculture land and rice fields. (Next time I’m in Scotland I’ll look to see if I have any pictures from that trip.)
I also seem to recall a few years ago the trolleybus was reintroduced within the city. I know one of the routes ran up to the stadium. I’m sure it was challenging in those days to make anything electrical work well. So it’s interesting that the powers (sic) that be are contemplating using electricity again to operate a public transport system. Power aside, do we want to be sitting how many meters up in the air in a metal container if there is an earthquake? And, even those of you who think the earthquake is ‘done’, what about the disruption to traffic which this system will cause while it is being constructed? Does anyone know the reason the trolleybus system was ditched in the first place? It would be interesting to find out.
Most of us remember the road expansion project—indeed it is still going on. I live near Lazimpat and it took—what—three years to complete the enlargement of Lazimpat Road. The inconvenience, dust, and disruption to people’s lives was huge. Not to mention those who lost their livelihoods and homes because of it. Can we really go through more years of that?
I have also ridden the train out of Janakpur which meandered at snail’s pace through thatched roofed villages. Yes—there was a train! The only train in Nepal! Why did that close down? It certainly wasn’t for lack of customers. When I went on it, it was completely packed with villagers transporting goods from Jankapur back to their homes. Standing room only!
After visiting whichever village we went to, my friend and I decided to walk back to town as it was slightly faster than the train! I hear that the train service been opened again, and I did plan to visit the railway station when I was in Janakpur three months ago. But I failed to get to the station so I am none the wiser as to why it closed.
As road congestion becomes an increasing problem in Kathmandu, it is sensible to look at other alternatives. But how about the easy and considerably less expensive options first? Options such as proper bus lanes, expanding the Sajha Yatayat network, and how about carpooling? We all know carpooling can work here in Kathmandu as informal car (and bike) pooling was successfully set up by the Nepali youth during the blockade in 2015/16. A similar system could be introduced which requires, as in other countries, cars to contain more than just the driver at peak times. And of course parking facilities outside core city areas where people can then walk or take (especially provided) public transport to work would reduce vehicle numbers in the city center.
However, all of this could be just a dream…
