And with the onset of monsoon, the Maitighar-Tinkune and other road sections such as Dhobi Khola Corridor and the Narayan Chaur area boast revitalised greenery.

Commoners travelling through these sections are ecstatic about the recent changes. “We would like to see such greenery all over the Valley. Walking through the Maitighar-Tinkune section feels like travelling in a developed country because of the plantations and cleanliness,” said Pragalv Neupane, a permanent resident of Santinagar.

These saplings were planted as part of the city beautification project carried out ahead of the 18th Saarc Summit last year. However, there was less hope about

its continuity since various political parties frequently demonstrate on these road sections, trampling on the planted saplings.

Concerned authorities have also been seen neglecting its preservation,

ignoring pedestrians who frequently walk over these saplings. Kathmandu Valley Development Authority (KVDA), which oversees city beautification activities, had planted 1,700 saplings. Various species of plants such as masino khapate (Actinodaphne longiceps), holy tree (Ilex doniana), Japanese maple (Acer palmatum), flowering peach (Prunus persica X hybrida), swamp paperbark (Melaleuca ericifolia), privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium), golden duranta (Duranta repens) and azalea (Azalea indica) can be seen along the road sections.

KVDA chief Bhai Kaji Tiwari says that 100 plants were replaced in the Maitighar-Tinkune road section till date after some died of not see proper care and others destroyed by street walkers.

However, Nepal Telecom is now effectively work on the preservation of these greeneries.

“We have been planning to plant flowers in the green isles and water them regularly, and also removing weeds,” said Prativa Vaidya, spokesperson of Nepal Telecom. She also noted that the placement of tree guards on the two sides of the 4.4 kilometre stretch has insured more security to these plants.

KVDA has also planted 400 trees in Dhobi Khola Corridor and another 100 in Narayan Chaur. The community police and Dhobi Khola Tole Sudhar  Samiti look after them in the Corridor, and the KVDA is monitoring the trees at the Chaur.

Talking to the Post, Tiwari committed to preserve the greenery and extend their plan in other areas in the coming days.

“We have got many positive feedbacks from the public, and our aim is to build a clean and green city,” said Tiwari. However, he said, KVDA has not been able to work as efficiently because of political intervention.

“If we get a chance to work freely without any political meddling, we can transform Kathmandu valley within a few years,” he said.