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Mixed reactions over declaring Thamel ‘Vehicle Regulated Zone’
KATHMANDU, JAN 09 - Thamel Tourism Committee (TTC) has been lobbying to declare Thamel ‘Vehicle Regulated Zone’. While the committee members think that the move would boost tourist inflow in the area, Thamel residents have expressed mixed reactions on the issue.
Ganesh Bahadur Dhungana, CEO of TTC, said, "The problems created by limited space and narrow roads could be managed smoothly if the movement of vehicles is regulated. It will also provide tourist, the much needed space and reduce disturbance from vehicles."
Dhungana further said that the move was started after a series of consultation and interaction with business houses, local residents and the study of a report on traffic movement in Thamel. Within a month, TTC will conduct a joint meeting with the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Road Traffic and KMC.
However, this decision will not hamper the business of hotel operators in particular and tourists in general because the vehicles owned by hotels or guest houses would be issued a pass to transport tourists to and from the hotels during rush hours. Access will also depend upon international flight schedule. Likewise the locals would be provided with the ‘ residence pass’ for the entry and exit of private vehicles.
Responding to the decision, Rajen Shakya, MD of Kathmandu Guesthouse, said, "This policy is fine and it will do better but TTC must be ready to tackle the anticipated problems and should not fizzle out their work. In the past, a system of security guard and non-entry of empty taxis could not make much headway."
Shakya added that to translate this policy into reality, it is necessary first to regulate parking on the Tridevi Marg, which is already unruly and mismanaged in the absence of traffic police.
Meanwhile, Gaurishankar Dangol, a CD shopowner remarked, "Sound pollution is due to horn-honking and rash driving of motorbike riders who leave a trail of thunder. But it could have been checked had TTC given continuity to an earlier policy of restricting empty vehicles."
However, a Thangka shop-owner voiced that declaring Thamel ‘Traffic Regulated Zone’ is good because there will be less pollution, and tourists will not get distracted and disoriented by traffic commotion.
Deepak Mahat, president of Trekking Agents Association of Nepal remarked," Traffic Regulated Zone, in complete sense, should not come into force." Mahat added that 70 percent of traffic problem would be solved by restricting taxis carrying tourists during rush hours, giving entry passes to tourists and hotel operators and making arrangements for picking up and dropping tourists by issuing coupon to hired taxi.Posted on: 2004-01-10 02:37
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