KASKI: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Pokhara Metropolitan City have agreed to forge cooperation on urban infrastructure development and improved livelihood projects. Another area of cooperation between the ADB and Pokhara metropolis is exploring the potential for sustainable tourism development of the city.
The areas of cooperation were discussed during a meeting between Mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City, Dhanraj Acharya, and Executive Director of ADB, Wan Farisan bin Wan Sulaiman.
Road security measures along with the road and drainage system of the city will be upgraded under the Regional Urban Development Project.
According to the officials, the ADB will provide economic assistance to different projects in Pokhara and the projects have already been selected.
One of them is upgrading of road section from Sahid Chowk to Pokhara International Airport and $5.34 million is estimated for the project.
Likewise, 13-kilometre (km) road will be tarmacked from Damdate to Bhanjyang under the Panchase Ecosystem Development and Access Project.
Similarly, upgrading of the road from Bhanjyang to Panchase area, establishment of service points, integrated promotion of homestay and preservation of Gurung Museum will be carried out.
Furthermore, 85-km long cycle track will be constructed by linking the 18 wards of the metropolis.
Settlement management, water spring protection, setting up information board and direction board and construction of toilets, water fountain, cycle parking and cycle stand with service point will be carried out under the Phewa Lake Improvement Project. Pokhara Metropolitan City has said $3.05 million will be spent on this project.
Similarly, there is a plan for connecting Damsite and Raniban with a glass bridge and developing an eco-trail from Raniban connecting the Peace Stupa and the Phewa Lake rim in an integrated way under the Raniban Eco-trail and Phewa Lake Improvement Project. The eco-route will incorporate public amenities including the construction of resting places, toilets, taps, installation of an information board and temple renovation. It will cost $5.63 million.
The Shanti Banbatika Botanical Garden will also be constructed. Under this project, the existing forest area will be developed into a greenery centre and a new tourism destination. A herbal garden, footpath, ticket counter, resting sheds, picnic shed, meditation centre, compound wall, fencing, and approach road among other structures will be constructed.
Another project is related to the conservation of Pokhara's old heritage. This project will be implemented for the conservation of artistic buildings and temples built in traditional architectural style located in Pokhara wards 2, 3 and 4. The Ramkrishna Tole (locality) will be developed as the Pokhara Heritage Site and into a main tourism destination. Besides the urban restoration of old Pokhara, this project will also upgrade the 1.5-km road from Siddhartha Chowk up to Bindhyabasini, along with the construction of a footpath. ADB will invest $1.98 million for this purpose.
The technical, environmental and economic feasibility report has been prepared for upgrading the road from Pokhara International Airport to Lakeside. The terms of reference (ToR) is being prepared for the purchase of DSCS for the project. This project will cost $2 million.
The ADB team held discussions with Mayor Acharya on these projects among other topics. On the occasion, Mayor Acharya said they were committed to completing the projects within the deadline.
The ADB team comprised of Executive Director Sulaiman, Director and Advisor Matthew Sullivan, directive advisor Bhimkanta Neupane and urban development expert Shiva Poudel. ADB will invest 75% and Pokhara Metropolitan City 25% of the total cost of the projects.
