KATHMANDU: Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has initiated a project to manage public benches along streets, parks, and river corridors for pedestrians.
The plan includes repairing and repainting old benches, increasing the number of benches in high-traffic areas, standardizing bench designs, and making them more attractive and user-friendly.
Suresh Rai, head of the Public Construction Department, said, “We are focusing on the needs of pedestrians based on age and physical condition. There is no plan to remove existing benches, but some may be relocated to maintain uniformity.”
As part of the project, iron-and-wood benches along the Bhadra Kali–Singhadarbar stretch are being repaired and repainted. Previously, there were two types of benches at this location. The department will restore the old benches to their original spots.
The Public Construction Department, along with the Department of Parks and Green Promotion, is leading the management work. In October 2025, the city had installed 140 public benches, each measuring 1.5 meters in length and 0.5 meters in width, at a cost of Rs 18,655 per bench including taxes.
Eleven benches have been placed along the Bhadra Kali–Singhadarbar stretch. Other locations include the Bagmati River corridor, Guhyeshwari, Koteshwor, and Kalmamochan.
In the second phase, 49 benches will be installed at locations such as Tin-Kune Koteshwor, Ratna Park, Maiti Ghar, Babermahal, and Kalpokhari. Under the Tactical Urbanism program, the third package will bring 150 additional benches, which will be installed at different locations based on demand and pedestrian needs, KMC officials said.
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