Kathmandu Metropolitan City Clarifies Rumors on Removal of Public Seating After Mayor's Departure

Kathmandu. Following the resignation of Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah (Balen) to contest the House of Representatives election, a new topic gained traction in Kathmandu.

Rumors spread that the Metropolitan City had begun removing chairs from public spaces immediately after Balen's departure. Acting Mayor Sunita Dangol also faced criticism on social media. However, the reality appears to be different. The Metropolitan City's Public Works Department has issued a response on this matter.

The department stated that the Metropolis has initiated work to manage public seating for pedestrians along roadsides, in parks, and along river corridors. The Metropolis claims that the process involves repairing, maintaining, and repainting old and dilapidated chairs, increasing the number of seats in high-traffic areas, ensuring uniformity by placing the same type of chairs in one location, and making them attractive and user-friendly. 

Suresh Rai, Chief of the Public Works Department, said, "We have started work to enhance convenience for pedestrians based on their needs, such as age group and physical condition. There is no plan to remove chairs from the places where they were previously installed. Exchange might occur to maintain uniformity."

Under this initiative, repair work has begun on the mixed iron and wood chairs installed along the Singha Durbar-Bhadrakali road section. Rai informed that there were two types of chairs in this area, and the older benches will be repaired, repainted, and kept in their original locations. He added that work will also be done to manage the practice of moving chairs around from their established spots.

The management of public seating is being carried out by the Kathmandu Metropolitan City's Public Works Department and the Garden and Greenery Promotion Project, with the latter giving it priority. In the month of Ashoj 2081, the city installed 140 public chairs in various locations. These chairs are 1.5 meters long and half a meter wide. Through the public procurement process, each chair, including tax, cost NPR 18,655. Eleven of these chairs were placed on the pedestrian walkway along the Bhadrakali to Singha Durbar road section. Besides this, chairs were placed in areas like the Bagmati and Bagmati river corridors, Guheshwori, Koteshwor, and Kalmochan.

Forty-nine chairs have been procured in the second phase. These chairs will be installed in locations including the Survey Department, Tinkune-Koteshwor section, Ratnapark, Maitighar, Babarmahal, and Kalpokhari. Under Tactical Urbanism, 150 chairs will be received in the third package. The Metropolis stated that these chairs will be placed in various locations based on demand and necessity.