Pokhara Bus Park Development Faces Decades-Long Hurdles

We consider Pokhara an unparalleled gift from nature. The government also declared Pokhara the tourist capital of Nepal a few years ago. Nepalis are adept at making declarations, but our thinking is quite weak when it comes to management and long-term sustainability. Regarding Pokhara itself, the government has shown no interest in the infrastructure essential for it to be a tourist capital. Some essential infrastructures for a capital are: a well-managed bus park, an airport with international flights, excellent tourist destinations, etc.

The Prithvi Chowk bus park, acquired with the vision of a beautiful Pokhara, is currently unsightly due to various disputes and complications. Neither the government that declared it the tourist capital has shown a desire to develop it, nor are we citizens showing much interest in it. For the past five decades, the Pokhara bus park has been a thorn in the side of Pokhara's modernity and development. In 2032 BS, then-planner Padam Bahadur Chhetri envisioned a grand dream of making Pokhara a well-managed city.

At the same time, under the leadership of then-Zonal Chief Shankar Raj Pathak, a physical development master plan for Pokhara was created. The plan was formulated in 2031 BS. Subsequently, on Magh 18, 2032 BS, a notice was published in the gazette, acquiring 205 ropanis of land in the heart of the city for the bus park. This journey has now completed 50 years, reaching 2083 BS. Individuals who were not even born when the plan was made have now become MPs, mayors, and ministers. Pokhara has produced dozens of leaders, yet the condition of the Pokhara bus park remains aimless. When I took office, the file for the bus park construction was gathering dust.

In every election, political parties have used the bus park merely as an attractive electoral slogan. Whether it was local or parliamentary elections, the construction of the bus park always featured among the top points in their manifestos. After the elections, the issue would be shelved again for another five years. I resolved, 'This issue should no longer be limited to speeches.'

We formed a high-level subcommittee and began field studies. The problems there were so intertwined that it was impossible to remove a single stone or add a single brick without resolving them. At that time, there were three main problems: land dispute with landowners, management of businesses displaced from the airport, and squatters who had been living there for decades. While seeking the answer to why the bus park wasn't built, we found ourselves having to contend with three main parties.

• Problem 1: Landowners and Compensation

When the land was acquired in 2032 BS, some were compensated, some were given land in exchange, but some landowners have been pursuing legal battles for 50 years demanding developed plots. They did not accept the state's plan but started building personal structures on their own land. While searching through the files, it was found that individuals who were not even landowners had claimed ownership and transferred the land. This became the most complex situation.

• Problem 2: Indecision of Old Businesses

Businesses displaced from the Pokhara airport area around 2030 BS were brought there for 10 years. That period extended to 25 and 30 years. Records in the decisions of the Town Development Committee show that 74 plots were distributed among 49 families at that time. It was observed that the same family was given 2-3 plots, which was clearly wrong from a policy standpoint. We conducted a detailed study of this and prepared a report.

• Problem 3: Squatters and Unorganized Settlements

Removing the squatters who had been living there since 2036 BS was considered politically risky, but we believed that they should be removed only after the state provided them with a proper alternative, keeping humanitarian sentiments in mind. They are also willing to move, but before that, they are seeking the nullification of the wrong decisions made by the state itself. This is not an unreasonable demand; it's just something the state has not had the courage to do.

The committee analyzed all these problems and formulated a concrete plan. We repeatedly communicated with the landowners. We offered them three options: 'take compensation, take land in exchange, or become part of the development within the bus park's perimeter.' We also planned to compensate the business owners with their principal amount plus interest and bid them farewell. For the squatters, we proposed the concept of integrated housing or seed money. After this was completed, we were confident that the bus park could be built on the entire land.

At that time, architects and engineers had prepared a cost estimate of 10 crore 56 lakh for building the bus park. We had worked hard and deposited 9 crore rupees in the Town Development Fund. There was a budget, a plan, and public support, but unfortunately, before the work could begin, responsibilities were reshuffled. The political equation at the center changed. The chairman of the committee also changed, and the entire plan was ruined. If there had been no political obstruction at that time, Pokhara would have been freed from this 50-year stigma today.

• The Way Forward

We are no longer in a position to get bogged down by the problems of the past. No resident of Pokhara has that luxury. Pokhara is now a metropolitan city, and both its population and vehicular traffic have skyrocketed. The master plan conceived for a population of 60,000 cannot accommodate 1 million today. Therefore, relying solely on old ideas is not enough; our future plans must be very modern and practical. All parties must be equally responsible for resolving this issue by preparing various models.

First, a new model for land management should be presented. The bus park cannot be built by distributing plots to landowners and businesses. No one should have personal land ownership within the acquired land. The land should be brought entirely under the ownership of town development by providing landowners fair compensation at the current market price.

After that, integrated housing should be considered. Simply removing the squatters from the bus park area will not solve the problem. They should be relocated to another area in Pokhara by building modern apartments for them. They should not be excluded from the city's development. It seems they will be ready to move if a dignified living alternative is provided. Once this is done, a modern plan for the bus park should be developed.

The bus park to be built now should not just be for parking vehicles and dropping off or picking up passengers; technology must regulate it. There should be a remote sensor at the bus park gate. A tracking system should be installed so that passengers can view details of which vehicle departed on which route and at what time on their mobile phones. The terminal building should have quality waiting rooms, nursing rooms, and accessible toilets for the disabled. There should be a small health center within the bus park for the emergency treatment of passengers and drivers. A comfortable rest house should be arranged for transport workers.

Apart from this, nothing else should be allowed to be built in the bus park. Permanent settlements or personal shops within the bus park should be completely prohibited. Apart from public service structures, there should be nothing else. For commercial purposes, a specific area should be designated on the outer perimeter of the bus park.

The Prithvi Chowk area is so chaotic today. Passengers are dropped off and picked up on the road. Pokhara is an international city! Seeing such a scene in the heart of an international city is a matter of shame for all of us, especially for those entrusted with building Pokhara (including myself). Due to the non-construction of the bus park, landowners have not been able to fully utilize their land, businesses are in uncertainty, and the general public is suffering. This means we are all losing because the bus park is not being built.

However, if the bus park is built, everyone will win. The city will be organized, traffic jams will decrease, and Pokhara's tourism will gain a new dimension. Keeping in mind the highway standards, construction of modern structures on the 187 ropanis of land should not be delayed any further. Let's not complicate this further. The current leadership should move forward based on the report, cost estimate, and plan we prepared earlier. Political parties should set aside their electoral interests and reach a consensus on this. The federal government, provincial government, and the metropolitan city should prioritize this as a national pride project.

(Lamichhane is the former chairman of the Pokhara Valley Town Development Committee.)