Friday 17th March 2023
The urbanized city of Kathmandu is moving to the next level of transformation – Smart City!
The Kathmandu Valley Development Authority (KVDA) plans to transform the existing urban space into four smart cities and is working extensively to this end.
The KVDA aims to develop the smart cities in line with international standards, which will be equipped with modern facilities among others for a high-class living experience for citizens, visitors and tourists.
The smart cities land areas are being named after the directions used in ancient building construction popularly called Vastu Shastra- Agneya, Ishaan, Nairitya and Uttar.
The blueprint for developing the Kathmandu-based smart cities is completed and the authority is waiting on the Detailed Project Report (DPR). Kathmandu is not the only Nepali city that will be transformed into smart cities, a similar DPR for building a smart city in Bhaktapur was prepared last year. Besides, the DPR for the two other cities has also been completed in the first month of the current financial year.
According to KVDA Commissioner Bhaikaji Tiwari, once the DPR for the Kathmandu smart cities is also submitted, then a Project Management Committee will be formed to start groundwork.
The next step would be to present the DPRs to the Council of Ministers. With approval from the council, the necessary finances will be arranged for successful project implementation and completion, Tiwari added.
“I am sure that all the four cities will be transformed into smart ones with all the modern infrastructure at the base once the work starts on the project,” said Tiwari.
The Nepal Government has allocated a budget of NPR 180 million in FY 2075-76 BS. Out of the given amount, NPR 120 million was allocated for Bhaktapur, while the remaining amount was equally divided among the other three proposed cities. Besides, an additional NPR 20 million was given to each of the four smart cities within Kathmandu Valley.
According to a decision taken by the KVDA on Baisakh 24, 2074, the allotted land for the smart cities has been kept aside for laying their foundation.
