Traffic lights may be installed on Koteshwor-Kalanki road: Department of Roads

KATHMANDU: The Department of Roads is planning to install traffic lights if the road extension is completed. The Department is going to place lights in seven places on the Koteshwor-Kalanki road, which was expanded two years ago with the financial assistance of the Chinese government.

The Department has been installing traffic lights on roads with heavy traffic and pedestrians. Chief of the Road Safety and Traffic Branch of the Department, Krishnanath Ojha, informed that there is a plan to sign an agreement regarding this road within the current fiscal year.

He said that an agreement will be reached to keep lights in different sections of the roundabout in the current fiscal year even if there is no budget. He said, “This year, the contract has been signed and it will be completed next year.”

The government has been installing traffic lights on various roads and zebra crossings in the valley for the last two years. It can be seen that it is easier to manage the vehicles due to the lights in the places where there is more traffic.

The Department is installing lights in Jadibuti, Koteshwor, Thapathali, Durbar Marg and Keshar Mahal within the current fiscal year.

According to the Department, lights are being installed in the valley due to heavy traffic and passengers crossing the road. The lights will be installed at five intersections and eight zebra crossings, said Ojha.

A contract worth Rs 11.5 million has been signed for the connection of these lights. Among the places where the Department is now installing lights, there were lights in Thapathali and Jadibuti before. Earlier, a private company had installed lights at its own expense for testing in Thapathali. He informed that the organization removed the lights after the technology was not successful.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which expanded the Tinkune – Suryabinayak road, had installed lights in Jadibuti. He said that the lights did not work and the old technology was being replaced with new technology.