April 13, Kathmandu

The Department of Roads is going to install traffic lights in five more places by July for traffic management in the Kathmandu Valley.

According to the department, lights will be installed in Jadibuti, Koteshwor, Thapathali, Durbar Marg, and Keshar Mahal in the current fiscal year. According to the department, lights are being installed in Kathmandu Valley due to heavy traffic and passengers crossing the road.

Chief of the Traffic Management and Traffic Branch, Krishnanath Ojha, informed that lights will be installed at five intersections and eight zebra crossings. Some traffic lights have arrived. According to Ojha, the goods are being 'projected'. Some goods are yet to arrive from abroad. A contract worth Rs 11.5 million has been signed for the connection of lights in five places.

Among the places where the department is now installing lights, Thapathali and Jadibuti used to have lights. Earlier, a private company in Thapathali had installed lights at its own expense for testing. Ojha said that the organization pulls out the lights after it was not successful.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which has expanded the Tinkune-Suryabinayak road, had installed lights on the intersection. As the lights did not work and the old technology was used, new technology lights are being installed in that place.

The department has so far installed traffic lights at 19 places in the Kathmandu Valley. There are also lights placed by the Municipality in some places. The traffic police department has been managing lights. The lights connected by other bodies will also be handed over to the department in a few months, said Chief Ojha.

The department plans to put lights in seven more places.