In a bid to address persistent traffic congestion that has plagued daily life in the Kathmandu valley, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Lalitpur Metropolitan City have started taking responsibility for traffic management.

Kathmandu Metropolitan City has installed push-button traffic lights in 36 locations to help pedestrians cross the roads more easily, whereas the Lalitpur metropolis has installed traffic lights in eight busy intersections.

Officials from both city offices claimed that their moves will improve pedestrian safety, reduce accidents, and save the time of motorists.

“We have installed 36 push-button traffic lights at busy intersections,” said Jagatman Shrestha, traffic expert adviser at the Kathmandu Metropolitan City office. “We have prioritised school, college and hospital areas, where pedestrians face difficulties crossing roads.”

Push-button devices at traffic intersections allow pedestrians to request a stop in traffic, so they can cross the road safely. Shrestha said that once a pedestrian pushes the button, the traffic light will turn red after two minutes.

The Lalitpur Metropolitan City has installed push-button traffic lights at Jawalakhel, Damkalchowk, Pulchowk, Kupandole, Harihar Bhawan and the road leading to Chaudhary Group’s office. Officials say the move has helped reduce pedestrian accidents and improved overall traffic management.

“Even VIPs and ministers must now follow traffic rules because of these traffic lights,” said Sitaram Hachhethu, chief of municipal police of Lalitpur Metropolitan City. “Traffic police turn off the lights only during the movement of VVIPS such as the President, Vice-president, prime minister and chief justice.”

Hachhethu, who served in the traffic police for 30 years, said that traffic police previously feared job suspension if they delayed clearing the way for VIPs and ministers. The installation of push-button traffic lights has helped streamline time management, provided relief to traffic police officers, and spared them from getting scolded by seniors for failure to clear the road for high-profile figures.

“These traffic lights operate round-the-clock, even when traffic police are off duty. They don’t discriminate between VIPs and the general public,” said Hachhethu. “We plan to install more push-button traffic lights at various locations in the upcoming fiscal year.”

Traffic management has become a pressing issue in the Kathmandu Valley. Commuting during office hours has become a nightmare due to traffic chaos caused by overcrowded roads, an increasing number of private and public vehicles, haphazard parking, and frequent traffic violations.

Local officials say that delegating traffic management responsibilities to local governments could be a practical solution to growing traffic problems. They say that local governments can invest in the latest technology, make rules, and enforce them effectively with public support.

Besides installing new traffic lights, Lalitpur Metropolitan City has also launched a traffic awareness week by deploying 100 college students and 30 municipal police officers to educate the public on traffic rules.