Plan afoot to declare Thamel vehicle-free from August

In a bid to develop Thamel, one of the most happening tourist destinations of the capital, as a pedestrian-friendly area, Thamel Tourism Development Council (TTDC) has decided to declare the area vehicle-free zone from the third week of August. The TTDC has proposed that vehicles be restricted from entering into Thamel area between 12 pm and 3 pm and again 6 pm and 9 pm from August 17. The TTDC will hold discussions with Metropolitan Traffic Police Division (MTPD), Kathmandu Metropolitan City Office (KMC), National Taxi Entrepreneurs Association, Nepal Taxi Workers´ Union, among others, to decide the exact hours for restricting vehicles from entering into Thamel. According to the TTDC, the local people and tourists in Thamel are facing multiple problems due to a huge number of vehicles passing through the small alleys of Thamel every day. “Usually during the proposed hours, the locals and foreigners go shopping or to dine,” said Ram Sharan Thapaliya, president of the TTDC. “But due to the overcrowding of vehicles inside Thamel area, people can enjoy neither shopping nor the dinner.” According to him, locals of Thamel and business persons are also supporting the committee. At present, the committee has finished meeting the locals of various areas of Thamel like Thaiti, Jyatha, Bhagwati-Bahal, among other. “In this one and half months, we will finish meeting all the stakeholders in order to start our work from August,” said Thapaliya. “We are planning to hold a grand meeting soon in which all concerned can take part.” In 2009, the same committee initiated the work but it did not succeed because of lack of budget. The campaign lasted for only six months during which vehicles were not allowed to enter Thamel from 8 am to 8 pm and passes were provided to the local residents and business persons of Thamel for the entrance. But now the committee will not provide such passes to anyone. No vehicle will get chance to enter inside Thamel during the time duration. “If we give such passes again, all people want that and our mission to make Thamel vehicle-free zone will again be unsuccessful,” said Thapaliya. Other stakeholders are also delighted with the decision to make Thamel a vehicle-free zone. “This will help our traffic police to maintain the flow of traffic and manage the parking situation,” said Pawan Kumar Giri, spokesperson of MTPD. “The campaign is necessary because Thamel is a tourist area and it must be able to attract them.” According to him, all tourist areas should be declared vehicle-free zone in order to give full pleasure to the tourists. Source: republica