Lalitpur, October 20
Construction is underway on a pedestrian overpass equipped with lifts at Kusunti Height in Lalitpur Metropolitan City, in what its designer describes as a first-of-its-kind initiative in Nepal.
On Monday, the second day of Maha Ashtami, a team led by bridge designer Binod Neupane was working on the structure, which aims to make road crossings safer and more accessible for pedestrians, including senior citizens, patients and people with mobility difficulties.
“This is not just disability-friendly but designed for people who face difficulties moving around. Senior citizens and patients come here, particularly because Patan Hospital is nearby,” Neupane said. “We are trying something new in Nepal by installing lifts to make crossing the road easier for them.”
The project is being built with Lalitpur Metropolitan City’s budget. According to Neupane, the metropolis plans to construct a similar structure near Patan Hospital after completing the Kusunti project.
Construction is expected to be completed within two months, after which the overpass will be brought into operation.
Safety concerns drive the project
The overpass is being constructed partly because of the high number of road accidents in the area.
“Some 25 to 26 people have lost their lives here so far. There are also around 10 roads in the surrounding area,” Neupane said, adding that the situation highlighted the need to make the area safer for pedestrians.
The project is part of the metropolitan city’s broader plan to improve and organise footpaths and make walking safer.
“There is constant conflict between roads and footpaths, and between pedestrians and vehicles. Our footpaths also do not meet proper international standards,” Neupane said.
He added that the aim was to ensure people could walk along footpaths and cross roads without risking their lives, suffering injuries or facing other difficulties that could lead to loss of life and property.
Rs 50 million project
The overpass is being built at an estimated cost of Rs 50 million.
Neupane said the team had initially proposed additional facilities, including seven commercial units, toilets and a restaurant in a green space, to help make the project financially sustainable.
“However, the government at the time was not very positive about those proposals. Only the structure itself was approved, so we are proceeding accordingly,” he said.
Construction work has continued during Dashain, when traffic volumes are relatively lower than usual.
“Traffic congestion is much heavier here at other times. Even during Dashain, you can see that traffic is still busy, and municipal police are deployed to manage it,” Neupane said. “We are carrying out the work while trying to balance construction and traffic management.”
