KATHMANDU, MAY 28 -
Pedestrians in the crowded Capital are set to get some relief while crossing the road with Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) and Innovative Concept Pvt. Ltd. signing a 27-point agreement on constructing four overhead bridges over the next couple of years.An added number of such passages is expected to reduce traffic accidents in the most populous city in the country. New constructions will take place at Naya Baneshwor, Koteshwor, Gongabu and Machha Pokhari. Innovative Concept has the reputation of constructing two such bridges in Kathmandu and maintaining six others constructed by the KMC for commercial purposes.

“The completion of works depends on how early the KMC will provide land for the purpose,” said Paras Baral, executive chairman of the company. “On our part, we are dedicated to completing the task in two years.”

However, this is not the first deal Innovative Concept has signed with the KMC. One agreement was made with ex-Mayor Keshav Sthapit a decade ago and another with the then acting officer at KMC Ganesh Rai last year.

The pact remained unimplemented when the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) intervened claiming irregularities in the process. CIAA had suggested scrapping the older agreement and striking a new one reasoning that the deal was not much in favour of the KMC.

According to the latest agreement, KMC will provide land in the four places while Innovative will invest in the construction. In addition, Innovative will pay Rs. 2.2 million per year to the metropolitan body. It is manifold the amount the contractor used to pay on yearly basis -- Rs. 120,000. The contractor will earn by renting spaces created on the bridge for commercial purposes for 18 years. “Past agreements were not fruitful since the KMC could not implement them,” said Baral, doubting the success of the planned project. “I doubt the KMC will be able to provide land at Naya Baneshwor and Koteshwor,” he added.

Innovative will construct the bridges along with toilets on them and regulate hoarding boards, according to the criteria set by the civil body. In case the contractor wishes to break the deal, it has to do so three months in advance while the KMC is required to pay compensation to Innovative if it scraps the deal.


Posted on: 2010-05-29 08:33

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