Kathmandu Metro Reinstalls Public Benches After Maintenance

Kathmandu Metropolitan City has started reinstalling public benches on the sidewalks of the Singha Durbar-Bhadrakali road section following maintenance. 

Previously, there was criticism on social media claiming the benches were removed immediately after Mayor Balen Shah's resignation from his post. However, the metropolis clarified that the benches were not removed permanently but were taken for repairs and are now being reinstalled.

According to the Metropolitan City’s Public Construction Department, the benches made of iron and wood were in a condition where the wood needed replacing, so they were collected for repair and painting. Now that the repair work is complete, the benches are being placed back in their original locations.

Kathmandu Metropolitan City has intensified its work on managing public benches along roadsides, parks, and river corridors for the convenience of pedestrians. The department has adopted a policy of repairing old and dilapidated benches, increasing the number in high-traffic areas, and maintaining uniformity by installing the same type of benches to enhance the city's beauty.

The Public Construction Department and the Urban and Greenery Promotion Project of the Metropolitan City are jointly working on bench management. In September 2024, the project installed 140 public benches, each 1.5 meters long and half a meter wide, in various parts of the city. 

Purchased through a public procurement process at a cost of 18,655 rupees per unit including tax, 11 of these benches were placed in the Bhadrakali-Singha Durbar section. The remaining benches are located in areas such as the Bagmati River corridor, Guhyeshwari, Koteshwor, and Kalmochan.

Similarly, an additional 49 benches have been received in the second phase. The department stated that these will be placed in locations including the Survey Department, the Tinkune-Koteshwor section, Ratnapark, Maitighar-Babarmahal, and Kamalpokhari. 

Furthermore, the metropolis informed that 150 more benches will be received in a third package under 'Tactical Urbanism' and will be installed in various locations based on demand and necessity.