Proceedings of the Eastern Asia Society for Transportation Studies, Vol.8, 2011 Intercity Transport System in Nepal and its Implication in National Development Tara Nidhi BHATTARAI Tulasi Prasad SITAULA Associate Professor Joint Secretary Department of Geology Ministry of Physical Planning and Works Tri-Chandra Campus Government of Nepal Tribhuvan University Singha Darabar, Kathmandu Kathmandu, Nepal Fax: +977-1-4211720 Fax: +977-1-5552364 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Abstract: This paper provides an overview of transport sector in Nepal followed by an analysis of existing state of intercity road transport, challenges being faced and opportunities ahead. Besides 54 airports and a 53-kilometer long narrow-gauge rail line, there exists 20,138km of road. Majorities of the passengers are opting micro-buses as a suitable mode of intercity transport in short route as it is reliable, faster than buses and inexpensive than air services. In case of long route of more than 300km, despite of time consuming and other uncomfortable situations, passengers use buses as of their first priority as it is inexpensive than air; which forms 2nd priority. The major challenges being faced include ineffective implementation strategy, unable to avoid adverse geological situation, weak local institutional capacity, and inadequate budget allocation. Future opportunity lies in the fact that the country has to develop expressways and railways to meet the development challenges. Key Words: transport, intercity, development 1. INTRODUCTION Nepal is a land-locked country situated in the central part of the Himalayas stretching between 26022' and 30027' N latitudes and 80040' and 88012' E longitudes with an altitudinal range from 60m in the south to 8,848m in the north (which also includes Mt. Everest, the world's highest mountain peak). The country is bordered by India in the east, west and south, and the People‟s Republic of China in the north (Fig. 1). The country is 850 km long (east-west). For administrative purposes, the country is subdivided into five development regions and seventy- five districts. It experiences a wide range of climates varying from the sub-tropical in the south to the alpine type in the north within a span of less than 200 km (north-south). Covering an area of 147,181 km2, Nepal is broadly divided into three ecological regions: the Terai/Churia Range (plain area and low hills, 23% of the total area), the Middle Mountains (42% of the total area) and the High Mountains (35% of the total area) that is made up of five physiographic regions: High Himal, High Mountain, Middle Mountain, Siwalik (the Churia Range), and the Terai. Each of the physiographic and ecologic unit is extended in the east- west direction and has a distinct altitude variation, climatic characteristics and geological history. Nepal, with an annual per capita gross domestic product (GDP) estimated at about US$562, is the poorest country in South Asia and the twelfth poorest country in the world. The real GDP Proceedings of the Eastern Asia Society for Transportation Studies, Vol.8, 2011 growth at producer prices is estimated to be 4.6 % (GoN, 2010). Total population is projected to be 28 Millions and the population density is 192 persons/square km. Poverty is widespread with about 30.9% of the population living below the prescribed poverty line. Only 26% of Nepal's women are literate, compared to 62% of men. Agriculture is the main source of livelihood for a majority of the population and more than 80% of the population is engaged in agriculture, which is still the largest sector of the economy, having a share of around 35% of the GDP. About 40% of the population has access to electricity but the gap between urban access (87%) and rural access (27%) is very large. Moreover, the Nepalese are the lowest per capita electricity users in South Asia (about 70 kilowatt-hours per year). The deficiency of electric power is acute resulting more than 50 % of power cut duration during winter. i Figure 1 Ecologic zones of Nepal also showing the seventy-five districts This paper first provides an overview of transport sector followed by road development in Nepal. Discussing existing situation of intercity transport modes and vehicle composition, the paper then analyzes road services available, government's policies and challenges being faced. The paper also provides an account of future opportunity in the transport sector. 2. TRANSPORT SECTOR The transport sector in Nepal is dominated by the road transport which accounts for almost all domestic passenger and freight movements. Air services contribute to passenger movements to key commercial and tourist destinations and are responsible to transport of passengers and goods into remote areas of Nepal. Contribution of railway, waterways and ropeways in public Proceedings of the Eastern Asia Society for Transportation Studies, Vol.8, 2011 transportation is almost negligible. The number of intercity passenger across the country was estimated to be about 48 Millions in 2010. Passengers travelling by bus, car/taxi, and air constitute 78 %, 19 % and 3 %, respectively (MPPW, 2010). A brief account of historical background of the transport sector development is presented in the following sections. 2.1 Road Development The first motorable road in Nepal was constructed in the Kathmandu Valley in 1924. In 1929, 42 km long all weather graveled-road between Amlekhganj and Bhimphedi was constructed out side of the Kathmandu Valley. Systematic construction of road was started only after the advent of democracy in 1950. The first long distance road (115km), known as Tribhuvan Highway, to link Kathmandu with the southern part of the country (Terai) was taken up in 1953 with Indian assistance and was opened to traffic in 1956. A planned approach of road construction was initiated with the starting of the fist five year plan in 1956. Road construction got high priority in the decade of 1960 to 1970 with significant assistance and contributions from different bilateral donors like India, China, UK, USA and the then USSR etc. Although expansion of road network continued in each five year plans followed after 1956, Nepal is still one of the few countries in the world with a significant proportion of its total population living in areas not served by a motorable road. Current situation is such that up to 40 percent of the population of the hills are more than 4 hours walk away from an all weather motorable road and 13 percent of the Terai population are more than 2 hours walk away from a road. Four district head quarters are yet to be connected with road network. The average road density is 13.7 km/100 square km (Table 1). In terms of serving the population, the average density is 7.2 km/10,000 populations. These areas of poor accessibility are strongly correlated with the incidence of poverty, difficult topography, inadequate budget allocation, and low levels of human development. Table 1 Extension of road length, influenced population and road density (DoR, 2010) Year Total road Influenced population Road density length (km) (population / km) (km/100 sq.km) 1951 376 21,250 0.3 1962 1,193 7,974 0.8 1970 2,504 4,600 1.7 1980 4,940 2,844 3.4 1990 7,330 2,579 5.0 2000 15,905 1,509 10.8 2010 20,138 1,390 13.7 2.2 Air Service Development Development of air services started in 1955 inaugurating the Tribhuvan Airport in Kathmandu. Department of Civil Aviation was founded and the grassy runway was transformed into a concrete one in 1957. Royal Nepal Airlines started scheduled services domestically and externally in 1958. Currently, there are 53 domestic airports (5 regional hubs, 43 other domestic and 5 under construction). Of these, air services are operated in 34 airports (GoN, 2010). There is only one international airport in Kathmandu (Table 2). There were 20,27,147 international passengers and 13,77,868 domestic passengers in 2009 (CAAN, 2010). 2.3 Railway Development A narrow gauge railway track (53km long), stretches from Bijalpura of Mahottari district in Proceedings of the Eastern Asia Society for Transportation Studies, Vol.8, 2011 Nepal to Jayanagar in India, was established by the than East India Company for carrying goods to India specially woods from Nepalese forest in 1937. Later on, it was converted into passenger train. The country now has the total physical railway line of 57km. Nepal Railways Company (NRC), a government agency owns the 53-kilometer narrow-gauge rail line, which is composed of two sections: i) A 32-kilometer section between Jaynagar (India) to Janakpur (Nepal) (Passenger traffic) and ii) A 21-kilometer portion from Janakpur to Bijalpura (not in operation since 2001 due to severely damaged railway bridge over the Bighi River). Currently, the railway is commuting 3 trips carrying an average 3500 people and 60 tons of goods each day. The Indian Railways manages the six-kilometer long railway line (of which four-kilometer fall in Nepal) that connects Inland Clearance Deport (ICD) in Birgunj (Nepal) to Raxaul (India). This is only for goods traffic. 2.4 Ropeway and Waterway There is only one ropeway, known as Manakamana Cable that provides services to pilgrims visiting the famous temple of goddess Manakamana. A few boats and motor boats run by private companies constitute the waterways. The only trolley bus operated in the capital city is not in function now. Table 2 Existing situation of transport modes Roads Black-topped: 6,304 km , Graveled: 4,832 km and Fair-weather earthen track: (20,138 km) 9,002 km Airports International: 1 , Regional hubs: 5, Other domestic: 43 ( 54 ) and under construction: 5 Railways Jaynagar - Janakpur (passenger traffic): 32km, Janakpur - Bijalpura (currently (57km) not operating ): 21km and Birgunj - Raxaul(goods traffic): 4km Ropeways Manakamana Cable (3km) Waterways Few Boats/ Motor Boats (run by private sector) Trolley bus Not in operation now 3.