The Maitighar-Tinkune stretch is being equipped with street lamps powered by solar energy.
Under the SAARC beautification project, government has prioritised installation of solar-powered street lamps in the major road sections from where the guests and delegates pass through.
Currently, Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is installing poles on which the solar lamps will be intalled on both sides of the 3.3-km long Maitighar-Tinkune section of the road.
The new solar-powered steet lamps will keep the major city streets, heritage sites and roads around the Summit venue – City Hall – including the busy Maitighar-Tinkune section illuminated during the nighttime for the SAARC Summit.
The 3.3-km road section and major routes including roads around the summit venue will be equipped with solar-powered street lamps to keep them illuminated during nighttime ,” according to chief at the authority central branch Bhanubhakta Bhattarai.
Likewise, the six-lane 3.3-km stretch of Maitighar-Tinkune section – that boasts expressway, service lanes – is also going to be equipped with greenery, luxurious pavements and cycle lanes, informed chief of Kathmandu Valley Road Improvement Project Shyam Prasad Kharel.
The authority has demanded Rs 210 million from Finance Ministry for the street lamp installation project. It also plans to install solar street lamps from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) to Soaltee Mode, Jamal to SAARC Secretariat Office, Thamel, and New Road to Hanumandhoka, and Airport to Gaushala. The plan is on cards to equip areas around Tundikhel, City Hall and in Bhaktapur and Patan Durbar squares with the street lamps as the SAARC delegates and guests have shown interest to visit these sites.
Kathmandu Metropolitan City has also planned to equip various areas in the city including New Baneshwor, New Road, and the street surrounding Tundikhel with solar lights in support of the authority
The project is estimated to cost the metropolis around Rs 40 million.
The metropolis has earmarked around Rs 680 million budget for beautification projects – including solar-powered street lamps – for SAARC summit.