 |
Kathmandu,Wednesday April 26, 2000 Baishakh 14, 2057.
|
Some suggestions for
traffic police
Regarding valley traffic
office (VTPO) seeking suggestions to improve traffic movement in the valley, here are few
suggestions:
- Stop pedestrian crossing in
signalized interesections when the green phase for through lane is turned on.
- Educate the public on the
use of STOP sign. Nobody in KTM stops at the STOP sign.
- For roundabout intersection
like in Kathmandu ( Keshar Mahal) intersection ( outside Ministry of Education), change
the phase so that the right turns don’t conflict. For example, right now vehicle
going to Durbar Marg from Kantipath are in conflict with vehicles coming from Lazimpat to
Thamel. Change the phasing of the traffic light ( or police), so that vehicles coming from
Lazimpat to Thamel can make a right turn without going around the roundabout and at the
same time vehicles going from Kantipath to Durbar Marg can make a right to Durbar marg
without going around the roundabout. Do the same in east west direction. For next two
phases just run through in two directions ( north south in one phase and east west in
another phase).
- Note that there is a limit
to the roundabout capacity. So it might be desirable to change it to fully signalized
intersection without anything in the middle of the intersection. This increases the
capacity of the interaction as vehicles cross the intersection more swiftly.
- Teach the traffic police to
understand cycle length and maximum green. Cycle length of more than 200 sec will cause
more delay.
- Outside RNAC headquarters,
provide specific separately marked lane for Safa tempos and give enough time for Safa
Tempos to make a left from Sahid gate to their stop outside RNAC and from the stop to the
main road.
- Do not allow parking in and
around intersection. Especially in New Road roundabout outside Bishal Bazar main gate.
- Widen the road outside old
Bus Park in front of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). Build a bus lane and a bike lane.
Make over ead pedestrian crossing at the Bus Park and in front of Trichandra Campus.
- Outside the wholesale
market in Teku, in the Tahachal intersection, do not allow vehicles to park around the
intersection or make a parking bay.
- In general, teach drivers
to be more responsible. Introduce system of Ticketing.
I understand some of the
terms are technical, but the VTOP should understand them. A lot of improvements can be
achieved by better management, operation and enforcement by traffic police. They also have
to educate the public. They themselves should also be more educated on traffic issues.
There are many more small things that can alleviate the traffic chaos in Kathmandu's main
roads, if they are conscientiously implemented.
Sagar Onta
Kittelson and Associates, Inc Portland, OR, USA |
