Accident cluster in the urban roads
DOR through its special unit TESU had been collecting the data and planning the improvement of intersections for quite some time. In year 2000, the Government of Japan extended a grant assistance of ¥ 1039 million to improve the situation. The assistance enabled DOR to improve 10 of the high priority intersections at Koteshwar, Tinkune, Naya Baneshwar, Maitighar, Singh durbar, Padmodaya, Dillibazar, Kesharmahal, Kalimati and Kalanki. The improvement involved installation of signals and streetlights, pavement overlay as well as footpath improvement and storm water management works. To make the road users aware of the newly installed signals, series of road safety campaigns were organized.
Thanks to the cooperation of Kathmandu Municipality, Traffic Police and the civic society as well as the hard works of the consultant Nippon Koei and Contractor Obayashi, DOR could complete the project 2 months before schedule.
Now the traffic flow has become much more smoother, drainage problems are gone and the improved intersections have become attractive landmarks. More importantly, the road accidents have gone down considerably.(See table 1)
Table 1: Reduction of accidents
Intersection |
Reduction of
accidents |
Probability of
reduction |
| Kalimati |
16.4 % |
5.0 % |
| Dillibazar |
33.9 % |
15.0 % |
| Kesharmahal |
33.9 % |
15.0 % |
| Kalanki |
45.6 % |
55.0 % |
| Koteshwar |
39.0 % |
77.0 % |
| Padmodaya |
61.7 % |
96.0 % |
| Naya Baneshwar |
73.0 % |
96.0 % |
| Maitighar |
51.0 % |
97.0 % |
| Tinkune |
54.6 % |
98.0 % |
| Singh Durbar |
83.0 % |
99.9 % |
|
The signals are equipped with solar energy collectors. This measure has been saving about 24 % of the electricity consumption. The streetlights have been handed over to Kathmandu Municipality. The traffic police have been trained to operate the signals.
Following the success of the improvement of intersections, a number of municipalities have come up with requests to improve intersections in their area. The police also want more of the intersections to be equipped with signals, as the signals have reduced their workload.
However, to repeat the successful story again, projects should not be rushed. In the first phase, even with careful planning, the mysteriously appearing tunnel under Prithvipath and the land acquisition process at Kalanki disrupted the construction schedule. Thus the engineers at TESU are again busy with collection and analysis of relevant data, surveys, designs and devising the way to harness cooperation of all major stakeholders. Our aim is to make the second phase of the project much more successful than the first one.
|
Road Board Nepal
The Roads Board Nepal (RBN) has finalized its first year Integrated Annual Plan [IAP] for the current fiscal year 2060/061 based on demands, decisions of the RBN, and prioritization criteria. First year IAP could not be customized as objectively as envisaged by the RBN as the required data on traffic, road conditions, and type of maintenance were mostly unavailable. Resource allocation to the Road Agency for SRN – the Department of Roads – is based on more objective data such as priority list of road sectors identified for periodic maintenance and the importance of other roads for the rehabilitation. On the other hand, the allocation for Municipalities and District Development Committees is made based on the demand, study of available District Transport Master Plans, and recommendation from the DOLIDAR. As it is the first plan compiled by the RBN, it may have many areas for improvement that shall be updated progressively after identifying the shortcomings and after acquiring data on key parameters required for such planning. IAP is supported by a dynamic tool that can be revised based on the work status of individual RAs such as the DDCs and Municipalities whenever appropriate.
The total resource projection based on the achievements at the end of first five months of the running fiscal year as provided by the MOF is about Rs.384 million. Out of this, Rs.132 million expected to be raised from vehicle registration is allocated to various Municipalities on 50 – 50 % cost-sharing basis. Rs.200 million is allocated to different road maintenance activities within the SRN for DOR. Remaining Rs.52 million is allocated for different DDCs again on 80 – 20 % cost-sharing basis.
This is only the starting point. Way forward comprising following activities hold equal importance.
-
Timely transfer of collected dedicated fund from MOF
-
Finalization of the Draft Technical Directives
-
Development and implementation of disbursement model
-
Fund transfer to RAs
-
Actual implementation by RAs
-
Monitoring, Key Supervision, Evaluation by RBN
With due support from policy making level, high level management in concerned line agencies, implementing road agencies, and all other stakeholders, the RBN is confident that the first cycle of RBN shall commence and move towards achievement of the targeted objective.
Condition of National Highways in Nepal for the year 2002/2003 |
Road Type |
Surface Distress Index (SDI) |
Good |
Fair |
Poor |
Total |
NationalHighway
(Km) |
Black Top |
404 |
1297 |
407 |
2108 |
Gravel |
0 |
13 |
85 |
98 |
Total |
|
|
|
2206 |
|
|
