Announcing its programmes to enhance the urban beauty of Kathmandu for the upcoming Saarc summit to be held in November, Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has said it has intensified infrastructural development and renovation works in the Capital. One such plans to beautify the city is renovating its various landmarks.

For this fiscal year, the metropolis focused its attention towards giving a major makeover to city’s landmarks such as Ratnapark, Khulamanch, Ranipokhari, Shantibatika, Bhadrakali temple, Hanumandhoka area and Maitighar Mandala, among others.

Similarly, the KMC also has plans to plant greenery in major thoroughfares like Tinkune, Tudikhel, Sahidgate and Ghantaghar.

“The city beautification programmes have been finalised and is ready to be tendered. We are working on the last minute details before we forward it to the ministry for funds,” said KMC Chief Dhana Bahadur Shrestha.

The government has assigned KMC to work solely on city beautification and infrastructure development projects. The metropolis has in turn set a time line for the completion of these projects.

Meanwhile, a grant worth over Rs 536 million is set to be injected by the government to carry out these plans, while the metropolis plans to invest Rs 150 million from its coffers. The cabinet has also decided to fast track all the tenders concerning the Saarc Summit.

“With this cabinet decision, we can award the tender for the beautification and renovation projects to prospective bidders within 24 hours after we receive the fund from the government,” said Shrestha.

The KMC plans to undertake and complete various projects that include installation of street lamps, waste management, tidying up the utility wires,

refurbishing the existing pavements and fixing pedestrian railings, among others.

The metropolis even plans to direct the owners of houses facing the major roads and thoroughfares to re-paint their houses with similar colour for uniformity and light various major roads with solar lamps before the start of the regional summit.

Shrestha confirmed that all their projects are scheduled to be completed by October 27, a month before Kathmandu is set to host the summit.

source: the kathmandu post,21 july 2014