So the winter has arrived in Kathmandu. People have started putting on thick clothes like jackets and sweaters. I got well, as of now, and back to the daily business of news, blogs and talks. The effects of Protest Politics in Kathmandu are still visible and they are causing problems to Kathmanduits. The other day it was a strike in Satdobato area and hundreds of school kids couldn’t return home until late evening because of traffic blockade. Yesterday, it was a strike in Pepsi Cola and people in Gothataar area (including me) faced difficulties in reaching their destinations in other parts of the city. The strike in Pepsi Cola (this is actually a place if you didn’t know, on way to Sano Thimi from Koteshwor, where the factory of Pepsi is located!) was extended to Jadibuti and the traffic in Araniko Highway is blocked today. People residing near the Airport say that they haven’t been compensated by the airport for their land. I see they have a reason to protest but they don’t need to block the road and create havoc. There are other means of voicing their demands.
I reached my office via a long and bumpy route that went through Guheshwori, Gaushala and Tinkune. “Oh… this is a chance to get darshan of Pashupatinath,” commented one of the passengers in the bus. “Oh..bie, a chance for darshan,” responded the girl sitting next to me. And she moved her hand from chest to head. “Tapaile ta dhognu bhayena ta. Bhagwan mannu hunna ki kya ho?” I smiled and defended, “No, no. It’s not like that. I do respect the god.” I always wonder why people do the long distance darshan bhet with the by waving their hands between their head and chest.
So it was a long journey from home to office today. In Koteshwor, the traffic is a mess. A disappoint trend has started in Nepal these days: Road has become the most convenient place to vent anger. If you want to protest, just go to the road and lie down there. Traveling in the city has become difficult because of these kind of small scale protests, I don’t know how many. The good news of the week is that the ruling alliance of seven parties and the Maoists has agreed on the contents of the Interim Constitution. That’s encouraging but the problem it seems is with our psyche. Ke bhayeko yo? Joi Poi ko jhagada pani aba ta sadak ma aaula ra traffic jam hola bhanne pir! [What’s happening? I am worrying that hubbies and wives of the town might bring their “bilateral disputes” on the road to block the traffic!]
For the record: I was busy, very busy, with retrieving achieves of UWB from the Archives.org Way Back Machine. It’s quite tiresome process but I am taking it as fun. My principle is: enjoy whatever work you do. Sad that we lost all the contents of UWB in February last year. Hum, now I should start retrieving the data. See you later!
Dinesh Wagle on Nepali Society 
8 responses to “Traffic Chaos in Kathmandu”
Good to know the traffic updates before heading home! Ani yah the only thing left to happen is the wives and hubbies figthing on the road. The funny thing is the cause of jams ( i mean no one really knows wht is going on).. Hallai halla ko desh na ho. And this stage that the roads of ktm have turned into should be a matter of concern to all, jo ayo sadak tataune! kasto selfish way to put forth one’s demands..and Arniko highway! Come to think of it, its the Highway for heaven’s sake, and yet we don’t care! Pheri yo land use compensation ko kura kahan bata ayo?? I think the we nepalese esp the Kathmanduites have gone out of their minds in the name of Loktantra, as if anything is permissible..its always the rights, always demand, never responsibilities…uffff i think i needa head home now, akhir hindunai parne bhaihalyo, the sooner i leave the better! I wonder when we will be more sensible.. 😦 Wakka lagisakyo!
Sorry to hear about your traffic jam n strike problems but interesting to hear about a place called ‘pepsi cola’! Hope you can all blog out ur frustrations. Just wanted to say thats its great news (and something like an early christmas present for me n my study!) that you are recovering some of the lost UWB archives. The posts are an important part of Nepali blogging history that I thought had been lost forever in cyberspace. Good job with blogmandu too. Wish you a happy n strike-free christmas time!
[…] Wagle Street Journal on the chaotic traffic in Khatmandu. “If you want to protest, just go to the road and lie down there. Traveling in the city has become difficult because of these kind of small scale protests, I don’t know how many.” Neha Viswanathan […]
[…] Wagle Street Journal on the chaotic traffic in Khatmandu. “If you want to protest, just go to the road and lie down there. Traveling in the city has become difficult because of these kind of small scale protests, I don’t know how many.” Neha Viswanathan […]
[…] As if the city was their small shop and they were the shopkeepers, Maoists comrades have pulled down the shutter of Kathmandu. Vehicles that were on road until an hour ago (10 AM) have now suddenly disappeared. All of a sudden, Maoist cadres have taken over the “control” of the road even as Nepal police are showing their presence. People are now forced to walk on the streets. Thousands are stranded in the bus stations. Maoists said that they called the instant banda (closure) of the Kathmandu Valley to protest Nepal government’s decision to nominate 14 ambassadors for different countries including the US, India, China and Russia. It seems that the list has only the names associated with ruling parties Nepali Congress, CPN UML and Nepali Congress (Democratic). A few are from civil service. Maoists are set to join the interim government to be formed within weeks if everything goes as planned and it is obvious that they are angry with this childish decision of the current SPA government. Maoists must be accepted as crucial element of the governing structure in Nepal. There is no way Nepal can move ahead sidelining Maoists. The government has nominated staunch royalist like Sailaja Acharya and kept Maoists in dark about the nominations. And general public has to face the difficulties because of the government’s foolishness. Yes, Maoists could have become more responsible and voiced their protest in other ways. Bandas are bad. They hurt people. But we see the government more responsible in creating this situation here. Why on earth Maosits were sidelined in those crucial nominations? The government must backtrack from these nominations and move forward taking Maoists into confidence. […]
[…] As if the city was their small shop and they were the shopkeepers, Maoists comrades have pulled down the shutter of Kathmandu. Vehicles that were on road until an hour ago (10 AM) have now suddenly disappeared. All of a sudden, Maoist cadres have taken over the “control” of the road even as Nepal police are showing their presence. People are now forced to walk on the streets. Thousands are stranded in the bus stations. Maoists said that they called the instant banda (closure) of the Kathmandu Valley to protest Nepal government’s decision to nominate 14 ambassadors for different countries including the US, India, China and Russia. It seems that the list has only the names associated with ruling parties Nepali Congress, CPN UML and Nepali Congress (Democratic). A few are from civil service. Maoists are set to join the interim government to be formed within weeks if everything goes as planned and it is obvious that they are angry with this childish decision of the current SPA government. Maoists must be accepted as crucial element of the governing structure in Nepal. There is no way Nepal can move ahead sidelining Maoists. The government has nominated staunch royalist like Sailaja Acharya and kept Maoists in dark about the nominations. And general public has to face the difficulties because of the government’s foolishness. Yes, Maoists could have become more responsible and voiced their protest in other ways. Bandas are bad. They hurt people. But we see the government more responsible in creating this situation here. Why on earth Maosits were sidelined in those crucial nominations? The government must backtrack from these nominations and move forward taking Maoists into confidence. […]
Well James,
You can have another research on the names of different places in Nepal like Pepsi Cola or Jadibuti (herbs) which is near to Koteshwor. May be after you are done with the blog research? 🙂
As for the archives, the news is that many of the posts aren’t retrievable but some have been posted and I am still continuing the job. We just had a strike (instant one) just yesterday. And other two are expected…
so, let me take words sapati from Zade to say: “Wakka lagisakyo!”
Dineshji, thanks for the great new research topic recommendation! I’ve been to a place near Koteshwor which I’m sure was spelt ‘Bore’! But a multinational company name like Pepsi Cola…thats great!
The archives you got back are very useful for me thanks. Nways and more importantly, hope the talks work and you don’t suffer more mind-numbing strikes. Oh btw wives, hubbies and whole families are about to fight for 3 long days in the UK: its called Christmas time 🙂