Kathmandu’s Pothole Pandemic: The Daily Grind of Traffic Jams
30th August 2025, Kathmandu
Kathmandu Valley residents are all too familiar with the daily ordeal of navigating traffic, but recent reports from the Traffic Police paint a stark picture of a worsening situation.
Kathmandu Traffic Jam
Potholes, the seemingly innocuous cracks and craters in the road, have become a major culprit, transforming routine commutes into exasperating, snail-paced journeys. This isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a systemic issue affecting the city’s mobility and productivity.
The core of the problem lies in the direct link between road conditions and vehicle flow. A perfect storm of road potholes and a burgeoning number of vehicles has crippled key arteries of the capital.
The Traffic Police have noted significant delays in areas like the Old Bus Park, Bhadrakali, Sahid Gate, and New Road Gate. The situation is particularly dire between Lainchaur and Keshar Mahal, where a prominent pothole has forced a speed restriction, causing a domino effect of traffic congestion that stretches back for blocks. This isn’t an isolated incident.
The inner road from Mitra Park towards Sifal is also experiencing similar slowdowns, with vehicles lining up in endless vehicle queues. Beyond these specific trouble spots, the general increase in the vehicle population is exacerbating the problem across the valley. Major intersections like Singha Durbar, Maitighar, Thapathali, and Koteshwor are perpetually gridlocked.
The sight of vehicles moving at a glacial pace has become a common spectacle, a testament to the city’s overwhelmed infrastructure.
A Valley-Wide Problem and the Authorities’ Response
While traffic police are working to manage the flow and ease the congestion, their efforts are often a temporary fix for a deeper infrastructural issue. The problem isn’t just confined to the inner city.
The interconnectedness of Kathmandu’s road network means that issues in one area inevitably impact others. While the main entry and exit points are currently reported as normal, the ripple effect of inner-city congestion can quickly spread.
The challenges aren’t limited to the valley’s urban core. The monsoon season has introduced another layer of complexity, with landslides and road obstructions affecting major highways leading into and out of Kathmandu.
The Pasang Lhamu Highway, a critical lifeline, has been obstructed by landslides in Rasuwa and Nuwakot, a recurring issue that highlights the vulnerability of Nepal’s mountainous terrain to natural disasters.
Similarly, the Araniko Highway has been partially blocked due to a landslide in Sindhupalchok, further complicating travel and supply chains. These highway issues, while separate from the urban pothole problem, collectively contribute to a national transportation crisis.
To mitigate the risks of monsoon-related disasters, authorities have also imposed night-time restrictions on several key routes. The BP Highway and the Kanti Lokpath now have limitations on vehicle movement during late hours, a necessary precaution but one that also restricts connectivity.
The Path Forward: Addressing the Root Cause
The current traffic chaos in Kathmandu is a clear signal that a reactive approach is insufficient. Simply managing queues and manually directing traffic can only do so much.
The core issue of road potholes must be addressed with a proactive, long-term strategy. This includes timely road maintenance, investment in better quality construction materials, and a comprehensive urban planning approach that accounts for the ever-increasing number of vehicles.
For commuters, the daily grind of navigating these delays has become a new normal, impacting everything from business productivity to personal well-being.
The sound of incessant honking and the sight of gridlocked traffic are more than just a nuisance; they are a sign of a city struggling to keep up with its own growth.
Until the underlying issues of road maintenance and infrastructure are tackled head-on, the capital’s “pothole pandemic” will continue to be a frustrating reality for everyone on the road.
For more: Kathmandu Traffic Jam
