The construction of the pedestrian bridge at Koteshwor Chowk has not started yet even though the contract was signed three years ago. The construction of the bridge has not progressed as the federal government has demanded from the locals to change the location chosen for the construction of the bridge.
According to the Division Roads Office, Kathmandu, the contract will be canceled if the site for the construction is not selected soon. Sumit KC, information officer at the office, said that the office had earlier asked for the construction of a bridge near Koteshwor Chowk (on the road to Tinkune) but it could not be built due to dispute among the locals. For the construction of the bridge, some people are saying that the place should be right at the beginning while some locals are saying that it should be changed.
He said, "It can be built even if it is a little lower than the previous one." Information Officer KC said that the department will decide whether it is right to change the location or not. He said that the contract could be canceled if there is no consensus at the local level.
The office had started the process for the construction of sky bridges at two places including New Baneshwor and Koteshwor three years ago. Although there was some delay in New Baneshwor due to various reasons, it was completed some time ago and has come into use. In Koteshwor, however, even after the expiration of the period, it has not been decided where to build it.
There is pressure on vehicles and passengers in Koteshwor as a gateway of going outside Kathmandu Valley. Along with various districts of Bagmati Province, many of Madhes Province and Province 1 use this route. As it is a short distance station for those coming from eastern provinces, the need for a pedestrian bridge has been rising.
One of the three pedestrian bridges built by the Chinese government on the Kalanki-Koteshwar road, also built by the Chinese government, is near Koteshwar Chowk. There is a pedestrian bridge from Koteshwor to Balkumari but not from Koteshwor to Tinkune, which is why the traffic jam is increasing.
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