This news reports on the ongoing campaign to manage tangled wires in Kathmandu Valley, highlighting both its progress and the remaining challenges in completing the finishing touches across various areas.
The campaign to manage disorganized wires on utility poles in Kathmandu Valley’s main urban areas has picked up pace, though the work is yet to be fully completed. A recent inspection by the Nepal Telecommunication Authority showed that while wire bundling has been done in most routes, tasks such as removing open wires, managing cable loops, placing service provider tags, and improving overall finishing are still left.
The government initiated this wire management drive because untidy wires spoil the beauty of the city and also increase risks of fire, accidents, and road safety concerns. In the first phase, areas like Tripureshwor-Kalanki-Kalimati, Jadibuti-Pepsi-Cola, Tripureshwor-Jamal-Lainchaur, Samakhusi-Town Planning-Gongabu, Kirtipur, and Old Baneshwor-Chabahil-Gaushala was given priority.
Campaign Coordination and Directives
To oversee and coordinate the campaign, the Authority formed a special sub-committee on Jestha 29. This committee includes representatives from the Nepal Telecommunication Authority, Nepal Electricity Authority, Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Metropolitan Traffic Police Office, Internet Service Providers’ Association Nepal (ISPAN), Nepal Telecom, and Ncell Axiata.
The Authority had earlier instructed service providers to place identification tags on their wires and to remove any unused ones. As the progress was not as fast as expected, ‘lead operators’ and focal persons were assigned for each route to ensure regular monitoring.
Following high-level review meetings on Ashar 31 and Shrawan 15, attended by Minister for Information and Communication Dr. Bikram Timilsina and Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, responsibilities were re-distributed among the service providers. The revised action plan clearly defined which company would lead in which area, the number of poles and distance to cover, and the workforce to be mobilized.
Area-Specific Progress and Challenges
According to the Authority, in the Jadibuti area, wire bundling is complete, but the finishing work appears poor. Identification tags for service providers are also only placed in limited spots, and some ‘cable loops’ remain.
The situation in the Old Baneshwor area looks relatively better. Most open and loose wires have been removed, although some tags are either missing or torn in a few places.
In the Samakhusi area, wires have been bundled, but the visual arrangement is not yet fully organized. Monitoring shows that tagging lacks uniformity, and improvements are needed in loop management and final finishing.
Similarly, on the Lazimpat-Tripureshwor route, most wires are bundled, but some open wires and incomplete tagging persist. However, the Tripureshwor-Kalanki route has shown better progress compared to other areas. The Authority reported that bundling is complete in most parts, and tagging is well-organized. Yet, some open wires are still visible outside the main bundles in certain spots. In Kirtipur, despite most wires being bundled, the presence of open wires and limited tagging means the work is not yet complete.
Common Problems and Future Focus
A common issue observed across all routes during the inspection is the presence of ‘cable loops,’ according to the Authority. These are extra cables left for service expansion or maintenance that are not properly managed, making the poles look untidy even after bundling.
Moreover, the absence of service provider identification tags on all wires could lead to problems in the future when trying to identify the ownership of damaged or unused wires. In some locations, tags were found to be missing or torn.
The Authority has stated that from now on, only bundling will not be considering as a measure of progress. It emphasizes that final inspections for each route must involve removing open wires, managing cable loops, completing tagging, and improving the overall finishing.
For a long-term solution to the problem, the Authority suggests implementing shared infrastructure and underground utility ducts. It also notes that a continuous monitoring system with clear responsibilities is essential to put an end to the practice of adding new wires without timely removal of old and unused ones.
AI Disclaimer: This article was originally published on https://bajarkochirfar.com. It has been translated with the help of AI. For the best understanding and accurate facts, we recommend reading the original Nepali version.
