Valley
Heritage flair for Thamel-Basantapur road
The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) is planning to pave the road between Thamel and Basantapur with stones and bricks to promote heritage walk.Anup Ojha
The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) is planning to pave the road between Thamel and Basantapur with stones and bricks to promote heritage walk.
“We have already started the drive. However, the roads in New Road, Maru Ganesh and Chhetrapti areas will be blacktopped due to the heavy traffic flow,” said Ram Thapa, heritage division chief of the KMC.
He said the metropolis has already started works to make the Hanumandhoka Durbar Square area more pedestrian-friendly. The square is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and is a centre of attraction for tourists.
The division will fund the project with a budget of Rs500 million allocated for the conservation of heritage sites. Urban planners have welcomed the move. “It should have been done earlier. Bitumen is not our indigenous material. The maintenance cost of laying stones or bricks on the road is cheaper than asphalting because locals can replace the material as it is easily available in the market,” said city planner Kishor Thapa.The KMC also plans to pave the road from Hanumandhoka to Swayambhu.