Ministers Monitor Progress on Managing Hanging Internet, Telephone, and Television Cables in Kathmandu Valley

Kathmandu. Minister of Communications and Information Dr. Vikram Timilsina and Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Birajbhakta Shrestha jointly monitored the progress of managing hanging and unused internet, telephone, and television cables on road poles in the Kathmandu Valley. Reaching areas like Gaushala, Old Baneshwor, and Jadibuti, the two ministers inspected the work of removing cables and obtained information about the progress from the officials of the concerned bodies. 

The government has launched a campaign to remove disorganized cables in six routes in the first phase: Tripureshwor-Kalimati-Kalanki, Jadibuti-Pepsicola, Tripureshwor-Lazimpat, Samakhushi-Town Planning-Gongbu, Kirtipur area, and Old Baneshwor-Gaushala-Chabahil.

During the monitoring, Communications Minister Dr. Timilsina expressed dissatisfaction, stating that the progress was not as per the commitment to complete the first phase of work by Shrawan 15. He directed to work in a way that citizens can directly feel the results and warned that action would be taken against any body or person who does not complete the work within the stipulated time. He stated that unused cables should be removed immediately and service providers should take responsibility for their own cables. He directed the Nepal Telecommunications Authority to play an effective regulatory role and implement the integrated action plan. 

Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Birajbhakta Shrestha said that all bodies must be accountable to make both cable management and underground cabling work effective. Citing the success in New Road and Vishal Bazaar as an example, he informed that work would be expanded in the same pattern in other areas as well. He emphasized that since the problem of disorganized cables is related to public safety and urban aesthetics, all bodies must move forward together.

During the monitoring, Nepal Telecommunications Authority Chairman Arjun Ghimire said that the work was delayed due to the rainy season. He clarified that since the Shrawan 15 target was affected, the work is now being done to complete it within an additional 15 days. Stating that the problem was due to the lack of ownership tags on the cables and the arrangement of not being able to work during the day, he informed that all service providers have been instructed to put mandatory tags on the cables.
Due to disorganized cables, security risks have increased and urban aesthetics have been spoiled, so the government has launched a campaign to remove them by making an integrated action plan.