The government-led campaign to organize the tangled wires along the streets of Kathmandu Valley has gained momentum. The Nepal Telecommunications Authority is focusing on bundling wires, tagging, and removing unnecessary cables while conducting regular monitoring. The authority has emphasized the need for common infrastructure and underground utility ducts to prevent recurrence of such issues in the future. Kathmandu, 1 Bhadra.
The campaign addressing tangled, damaged, and unused wires hanging from poles in key urban areas of Kathmandu Valley has shown some progress. According to the latest monitoring report by the Nepal Telecommunications Authority, most routes have seen wire bundling completed. However, the removal of exposed wires, management of cable loops, tagging to identify service providers, and finishing touches remain incomplete.
The government initiative aims to address not only urban aesthetic concerns but also heightened risks of fires, accidents, and road safety hazards caused by disorganized wires. Priority areas in the first phase include Tripureshwor-Kalanki-Kalimati, Jadibuti-Pepsicola, Tripureshwor-Jamal-Lazimpat, Samakhusi-Town Planning-Gongabu, Kirtipur, and the Old Baneshwor-Chabahil-Gausala corridor.
The Authority instructed relevant service providers to affix mandatory identification tags on their wires. After initial progress fell short of expectations, a ‘lead operator’ and focal person were appointed for each route to enforce regular inspections. According to the Authority, although bundling was completed in the Jadibuti area, the final finishing was weak. Baneshwor, by comparison, has shown relatively satisfactory conditions.
The Authority clarified that bundling alone will no longer be considered a mark of progress. Final inspections for each route must ensure the removal of exposed wires, proper loop management, completion of tagging, and improvement of finishing. To prevent these problems from recurring, the Authority recommended establishing shared infrastructure and constructing underground utility ducts in the future.
