New Road locals protest plan to make New Road vehicle-free zone

KATHMANDU: Locals have protested the plan of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) to make the New Road area in downtown Kathmandu a vehicle-free zone.

They staged a demonstration on the streets of New Road on Wednesday carrying placards, arguing that the area should not be made a vehicle-restricted zone.

Presenting his policies and programs for the fiscal year 2024/25, Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah proposed making the New Road area a no-vehicle zone.

Madan Kumar Karki, a local of New Road, said the plan to prohibit the movement of motor vehicles in New Road is impractical and goes against the sentiments of the local people. “Local people gave their land to build New Road which is the first blacktopped road in the country,” Karki said. “We should not be forced to accept the proposal to make New Road vehicle-free.”

Another local, Shailesh Ratna Shakya, said the metropolis cannot forcibly implement any decision by suppressing the voice of the local people.

Likewise, Komal Tuladhar, another New Road local, said making Nhu Road a vehicle-free zone would halt business activities in the area.