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Table of Tables
NEPAL Urban Roads Standard 2071: Concept Note 4
Table 1: Urban road hierarchy...........................................................................................................................3
Table 2: KVMP Classification of urban roads...................................................................................................4
Table 3: KVMP provisional standard for urban roads.......................................................................................4
Table 4: Category of roads and speeds............................................................................................................8
Table 5: Reference traffic capacity for different road width..............................................................................9
Table 6: Reference capacity of Cycle Lane......................................................................................................9
Table 7: Carriageway widths.............................................................................................................................9
Table 8: Camber and superelevation for urban roads....................................................................................12
Table 9: Illumination requirements..................................................................................................................20
Table of Figures
Figure 1: Provisions made for urban roads in Nepal Road Standards 2027....................................................3
Figure 2: Typical Path with median strip (to be trimmed to provide deceleration lane) and additional space. 3
Figure 3: Path with expressway in the middle and service roads on either side..............................................3
Figure 4: Path with lanes at different grades....................................................................................................4
Figure 5: Typical Sadak cross-section..............................................................................................................4
Figure 6: Use of existing pavement..................................................................................................................5
Figure 7: Sadak with single-side frontage........................................................................................................5
Figure 8: Width of typical Marg category of roads............................................................................................6
Figure 9: Segregated and non-segregated Cycle Lanes................................................................................10
Figure 10: Bus-stop and taxi-stand on pavement...........................................................................................12
Figure 11: Ramping down of walkway and cycle lane....................................................................................16
Figure 12: Layout of pedestrian refuge...........................................................................................................17
Figure 13: Location of utilities.........................................................................................................................18
Figure 14: location of signs, plates and restriction for billboards...................................................................20
NEPAL Urban Roads Standard 2071: Concept Note 1
DEVELOPMENT OF CONCEPT
1. OVERVIEW
Urbanization is a global phenomenon. It reflects the desire of the humankind to live progressively in more
comfortable surroundings with better access to the livelihood. It is also a measure of the development a
country has made. However, this process should be planned and sustainable. The benefits being enjoyed
by a section of the community should not be at the cost of the rest.
Nepal is experiencing a phase of rapid urbanization. This has become a major challenge for the urban
planners as well as service providers. Planned development of urban roads not only checks the growth of
unruly settlements, but also facilitates systematic provision of other services without distorting the city
fabric.
Urban road standards is a prerequisite for planned development of urban roads. Although, Nepal Road
Standards 2027 (NRS), revised 2070, has some provisions for urban roads, as the Strategic Road Network
(SRN) connecting administrative centers and industries to the major trade routes has quite different
function, the NRS alone cannot address urban issues. Neither are the issues addressed by Nepal Rural
Road Standards 2055, revised 2069, being focused on farm to market and farm to settlement roads.
Both the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction (DUDBC) as well as Department of
Local Infrastructure Development and Agricultural Roads (DOLIDAR) have recently started to build urban
roads. To address the urban issues, both of them are parallelly formulating a set of standards for urban
roads. As the oldest road agency DOR has been constructing and maintaining, including urban roads until
recently, through its Division Road Offices (DRO). However, so far it has been paying little attention to
follow whatever standard it has for urban roads. Following the promulgation of Local Self Governance Act,
the municipalities too have started to build roads following rather ad-hoc standards: depending on the
mayor's view and the availability of budget. With a number of agencies mandated to construct and maintain
urban roads, for equitable and sustainable development they need to share the same set of standards and
adhere to it.
The purpose of SRN is quite different than that of Local Road Network and Urban Roads. Hence Highways
and Feeder Roads are globally kept away from settlement area. However due to the terrain and the
practice to take urban centers as obligatory points for planning of new roads, high speed roads pass
through a densely populated city. Moreover, ribbon settlements along the highways have obtained
legitimacy by being declared as municipality. Hence the practical option for these road stretches would be
to make them compatible with both NRS or NRRS and NURS as the case maybe. For this the proposed
NURS should rather supplement NRS and NRRS by filling in the policy gaps through further details as
required in the urban environment.
This concept note is developed with the support of UNHABITAT to chalk-out the requisites of a possible
urban roads standards with the cooperation of all concerned agencies.
Implementation of any norms has to face some challenges. The major challenge is to get land for the road
and associated development. Existing legal tools of imposing the Right-of-Way limits and public acquisition
of land needs to be modified and strengthened to include the state's prerogative of expropriation of private
properties and land pooling. There should be a way for the city dwellers to share the financial burden of
development.
NEPAL Urban Roads Standard 2071: Concept Note 2
Traffic management to improve capacity, quality and safety of urban transport systems
Agreeing to a common plan by the local inhabitants, the business communities and the government.
Consequently, a number of government agencies and local bodies are legally empowered to address the
urban issues. The involvement of a large number of agencies should be taken as an opportunity rather than
a hindrance for urban road development.
NEPAL Urban Roads Standard 2071: Concept Note 3
4. HIERARCHICAL REQUISITES
Different roads have different functions. Although all of them are important, they should have different
capacity and dimensions for a good circulatory function. For this, the roads are categorized under different
hierarchy elsewhere as follows. Nepal needs modify it to suit its purpose.
Classification Principal function Design speed Parking
Pedestrian Paths safe pedestrian circulation <15 prohibited
BiCycle Lanes safe bicycle circulation <30 prohibited
Local Streets land and property access 30-40 limited
Collector Streets links Local and Arterial streets 40-50 limited
Arterial Streets Intercommunity and intra-city movement 50-75 limited
Freeways Extra-city and inter-metropolitan movement >75 prohibited
Table 1: Urban road hierarchy
5. PAST ATTEMPTS
NRS standardized cross-section for 4-lane and 2-lane urban roads, as given in Figure 1, more than 40
years back. It was a radical but progressive concept at the time but was never followed.
Figure 1: Provisions made for urban roads in Nepal Road Standards 2027
A number of urban development and restoration attempts have been made in the past. The Bhaktapur
Development Project is an example where the improvement of all the roads of different category within a
bustling settlement has been done. In sparsely populated area, there has been many urban development
projects mainly through land-pooling. Similarly, there also has been attempts for landuse zoning and setting
NEPAL Urban Roads Standard 2071: Concept Note 4
road hierarchy. However, after some initial activity the efforts just fizzled out as the enforcement efforts
were not enough and the classification could not address the local issues in a significant way.
In order to improve the urban road network within its jurisdiction, Kathmandu Valley Mapping Programme
(KVMP) under Kathmandu Municipality classified urban roads in 4 categories as in Table 2. The
classification is still in use as a part of the metric house numbering system.
Carriageway Walkway x2 KVMP
UPBB Classification British Classification
(m) (m) Classification
3.0 Awagaman Marg Pedestrian Street Galli
4.5 Awagaman Marg -Ka Access Road Marg
6.0 Awagaman Marg -Kha Access Road Marg
6.0 1.0 Awagaman Marg -Ga Local Distributor Sadak
10.0 2.0 Sankalak Sadak Local Distributor Sadak
11.0 1.5 Chakra Path District Distributor Path
16.0 3.0 Arterial Sadak District Distributor Path
variable 1.0 Rajmarg Primary Distributor Path
Table 2: KVMP Classification of urban roads
KVMP also developed a provisional standard for urban roads summarized in Table 3. Following the
dissolution of the local bodies, the standard was never formally approved. These standards need to be
expanded and updated so that other issues, for example access roads and pedestrian amnesties, could
also be dealt with.
Parameter Path Sadak Marg Galli
ROW for SRN roads as per NRS as per NRS
ROW for SUN roads 11.0 m 7.0 m 5.5 m 3.0 m
Normal lane width 3.5 m 3.5 m 3.5 m <3.0 m
Lane width at signals 3.0 m 3.0 m 3.0 m 3.0 m
Camber 2.5 % 2.5 % 3.0 % 4.0 %
Design speed 60 kmph 40 kmph 30 kmph 20 kmph
Min. horizontal radius 100.0 m 50.0 m 12.5 m 6.0 m
Vertical clearance: normal 4.75 m 4.75 m 4.75 m 4.75 m
Vertical clearance: wires 7.0 m 7.0 m 7.0 m 4.75 m
Min. sidewalk width 2.5 m 2.5 m 2.5 m, level
Stopping sight distance 85 m 45 m 20 m 20 m
Intersection with Path signal roundabout priority priority
Intersection with Sadak roundabout signal priority priority
Intersection with Marg priority priority priority priority
Intersection with Galli priority priority priority
Storm drainage: surface Tick/ covered U Tick/ covered U Tick Tick
Storm drainage: collector O-type, class II O-type, class II O-type, class III
Table 3: KVMP provisional standard for urban roads
NEPAL Urban Roads Standard 2071: Concept Note 1
PROPOSED STANDARDS
1. OBJECTIVES
The purpose of developing a standard for urban roads is Nepal Roads Standards 2027 and Nepal
as follows: Rural Roads Standards 2013 do not address
urban mobility issues. Urban roads have
Provide safe, easy and comfortable roads to all
different function and users than other
users; roads. Here safety, riding quality and
aesthetics are more intertwined with
Minimize commuting time;
equitable road space distribution, saving of
Develop a road network which is economic to build commuting time and economic growth of the
area. Furthermore, with higher cost of land
and maintain; in urban areas, the efficiency of its use is of
Enhance the environment and aesthetics; paramount importance.
2. LEGAL BACKGROUND
The proposed standards for urban roads is founded on
Clause 5.1 of the act has empowered
the authority provided by Kathmandu Valley Kathmandu Valley Development Authority to
Development Authority -2045 act. Consequently, the formulate regulations for the physical
standard shall have statutory status within the area improvement of the valley.
defined in the act.
3. DEFINITION
Urban Roads are the roads serving within the urban
In the US, area with population over 5,000
municipalities. are designated as urban areas.
This implies that all the roads within municipal Considering the human and cost
boundaries, including those covered by NRS and NRRS, implications, it is neither practical to
construct bypasses to many of the major
will be urban roads and have to conform to the standards
traffic carriers nor possible to shift the
for urban roads, in addition to their respective standards. historic city from its present position.
4. GUIDING PRINCIPLES
The basis of the standards are the following guiding
The guiding principles define the scope and
principles:
the limitations of the guidelines. These
Equitable allocation of road space to all road users; principles complement the objectives.
The aimed Level of Service is C.
Segregation of road space for different modes;
5. ROAD CLASSIFICATION
Urban Roads are categorized into the following broad Several different classifications are in use
classifications: elsewhere, for example: Boulevard, Avenue,
Drive, Street, Road, Alley, Lane, Passage
A. Path and Path in the USA and Canada; Arterial,
Sub-arterial, Collector Street and Local
B. Sadak Street in India. As the characteristics of the
C. Marg traffic, road geometry and road user vary
from country to country, adopting a new set
D. Galli of nomenclature is better than redefining
them.
E. Padyatru Kshetra
F. Cycle Lane
5.1. Path
Functionally Path is a Primary Distributor and a part of Typically, Maitighar-Surya Vinayak section of
SRN. These roads shall essentially have 4 or more Arniko Highway has characteristics of Path.
separate lanes for mass-transit buses, other motorized On the other hand, Kantipath could be a
vehicles, bicycles and pedestrian. The number and width Path only when bicycle tracks are laid along
the road.
of the lanes for each mode shall depend upon traffic
volume. Any additional space shall be reserved as verge Any additional space could be used to
extend the walkways so that kiosks or
between the walkway and the building line. greenery could be added between walkways
The lanes for pedestrian and non-motorized traffic shall and bicycle track in such a way that the
space taken by the road furniture on the
be at a different level than that for the motorized traffic:
walkway is compensated from the verge. As
both for along the road and across the road at crossing road furniture enhances the comfort and
points. aesthetics, efforts will have to be made to
push out the building lines.
For directional segregation and future development,
In case of grade separation to accommodate
central median is desirable. There could be additional
topographical constraints, additional space
dividers to segregate the local traffic from through traffic will also be required for retaining structures
in case of roads with more than 2 lanes for high-speed and catch drains.
traffic.
Parking is allowed only when the traffic is less than 25%
of the road capacity and that too only on lanes for
motorized local traffic.
NEPAL Urban Roads Standard 2071: Concept Note 3
Figure 2: Typical Path with median strip (to be trimmed to provide deceleration lane) and additional space
Figure 3: Path with expressway in the middle and service roads on either side
NEPAL Urban Roads Standard 2071: Concept Note 4
5.2. Sadak
Functionally Sadak is a Local Distributor and often a part
Equitable allocation of road space among
of SRN. The pavement shall normally be 2 lane wide with road users requires cycle track on existing
an additional exclusive lane if a mass-transit system is to roads as well. Thus, Thirbum Sadak will not
be accommodated. In case of 2-lane pavement, the fall on Sadak category until cycle tracks, at
buses have to share the space with other motorized same or at different level than the road
pavement, is provided.
transport. In some cases, even bicycles may have to
share the same lanes on short stretches. However, in With increasing number of municipalities in
Kathmandu Valley, the aim should be to
normal cases bicycles and pedestrian shall have upgrade all roads in lower category to
separate lanes in both the directions. Pedestrian and Sadak. Although a minimum of 16 m wide
bicycle traffic shall have exclusive priorities in their roadway is required for Sadak, considering
respective lanes and get higher priority than the high pedestrian volume in rural area, and
that too carrying goods, a wider walkways
motorized traffic at crossing points.
are would be required. Hence the proposed
Figure 5: Typical Sadak cross-section width of roadway for new municipalities and
villages in the valley is 20 m.
The Sadak could have a median barrier for directional Exclusivity of cycle tracks at the same level
as the pavement
segregation. Parking is allowed only when the traffic is
less than 25% of the road capacity and that too only on When the pavement width is:
lanes for motorized traffic except for the lanes used by <12>7 m: bicycle exclusive tracks
mass-transit. >12>7 m: bicycle tracks shared by
vehicular traffic
On the existing roads with walkways, the following
variety of Sadak is possible depending upon the
pavement width and bicycle traffic.
NEPAL Urban Roads Standard 2071: Concept Note 5
Figure 7: Sadak with single-side frontage Most of the present roads in Marg category
are a result of gradual widening of roads in
Galli category and opening of motorable
access along land parcel borders by
5.3. Marg
property dealers to appreciate monetary
A Marg is an Access Road by function. Pedestrian and value of adjoining parcels. Some of the Marg
non-motorized traffic shall have priority along these roads have been constructed following
NRRS in the former villages surrounding
roads. Motorized traffic of only the local inhabitants shall
municipalities.
be allowed with restriction to speed, sound, high beam
The existing Marg roads are full of sharp
and emission. In order to facilitate movement of
bends and bottlenecks, most often without
emergency vehicles, on-street parking shall be functional drainage system and pedestrian
disallowed. facilities. Thus, except for those ending in a
cul-de-sac, Marg should not be taken as fully
The width of pavement of Marg category of roads shall developed roads but roads in transition to
be between 6.0 m to 5.5 m without walkways, and up to acquire standard characteristics. Hence
4.0 m if raised walkway of minimum width (1.5 m on one before an area becomes heavily built up,
or both sides) exists. Marg category of roads meant for
thoroughfare shall be widened to Sadak
category, or at least appropriately wide
space should be reserved for Sadak.
NEPAL Urban Roads Standard 2071: Concept Note 6
normal Marg
narrow Marg
Figure 8: Width of typical Marg category of roads
5.4. Galli
Historic Galli Narrow accesses hinder rescue operations
in case of a disaster. Hence the aim shall be
A Galli is a pedestrian priority Access Road of width less
to widen existing Galli to allow free
than 4.0 m. Only the bicycles and motorcycles of the movement of four persons carrying a sick
local inhabitants shall be allowed to share the road person on a stretcher. This translates into a
pavement with the pedestrian with restriction on speed, minimum width of 2 m and a minimum inner
curvature of 4R.
sound and high beam. No on-street parking is allowed to
facilitate any emergency movement. Galli too should be considered as roads in
transition to development. Thus new Galli
In case of gradient higher than 20%, Galli shall be shall be built only as a second access for
provided with steps. Narrow inclined plane shall be pedestrian and bicycle traffic.
added over the steps to facilitate towing of bicycles.
6.1. Speed
6.1.1.Relation among speeds
Cruising speed is a function of safety instead of road The Design Speed is no longer referred after
geometry and surface condition in urban roads. The completion of construction. In practical
different speeds relevant to Urban Roads are as follows. terms, only speed allowable from safety
point of view and cruising speed of majority
For higher speeds in case of long distance buses and of vehicles govern thereafter.
trucks, express-ways needs to be built with complete
access control and grade separated pedestrian crossing
as per Figure 3.
Type of Road Design speed Likely 85% Allowable maximum speed (kmph) Remark
(kmph) speed (kmph) Bus/ Truck Other motorized Bicycle
NEPAL Urban Roads Standard 2071: Concept Note 8
vehicles
Path 80 85 50 40 15 Bicycle only on exclusive lane.
Express-way for higher speed of
bus/truck
Sadak 65 70 30 30 15 Bicycle only on exclusive lane
Marg 40 50 20 10 Only emergency vehicles and local
inhabitant's vehicles
Galli 15 20 5 5 Only emergency vehicles and local
inhabitant's vehicles
Padyatru Path 10 5 Only emergency vehicles
Cycle Lane 10 15 Only emergency vehicles
Table 4: Category of roads and speeds
6.2.2.Capacity of carriageway
On two-way undivided carriageway, the capacity is
The design should not be based on AADT
relatively independent of distribution by direction, and but on peak hour demands to get Class C
design is based on two-way total flows. On divided Level of service.
carriageway, capacity is dependent on distribution by 5.5 m and 6.0 m wide pavements do not
direction and design should therefore be based on peak allow stable flow even on one way roads.
hour flow in the busier direction of travel.
Capacity (PCU/hr) of road carriageway
Traffic lanes; Traffi No frontage access, no With frontage access and high Free frontage access, parked
width c flow standing vehicles, very little capacity intersections but no vehicles, and heavy cross
cross traffic standing vehicle traffic
2-lane; 7.0 m 1-way 2,400 1,500 1,200
2-way 1,500 1,200 750
3-lane; 10.5 m 1-way 3,600 2,500 2,000
NEPAL Urban Roads Standard 2071: Concept Note 9
6.3. Space
6.3.1.Carriageway
There shall be no reduction of carriageway on the The carriageway width shall be as per NRS
bridges and culverts. for cases other than defined in Table 7.
Excluding the widening at horizontal curves, shoulders, Even if the storm water-drain is covered or
side drains and median barriers the carriageway widths made flat, it cannot be included into
carriageway width. However this space
should be as follows:
could be considered for the space taken by
Path Sadak Marg Galli overhang portion of vehicles.
Road type
(m) (m) (m) (m)
2-way, multi-lane 3.5 3.5 6.0
/lane /lane
1-way, 1-lane 3.75 3.75 5.5 4.0
/lane /lane
At approach to traffic 3.25 3.25 3.0* / 3.0*
signals /lane /lane lane /lane
6.3.2.Cycle Lane
Separate Cycle Lanes should be provided when the
The 1.2 m wide lane for each direction as
peak bicycle traffic exceeds 400/hr on routes with motor provisioned in NRS should be taken as
vehicle traffic within 200 PCU/hr. When the motor vehicle absolute minimum value.
traffic exceeds the threshold, separate Cycle Lanes are Considering the need for overtaking and
justified even if the bicycle traffic is only 100/hr. frequent spillover of pedestrian onto cycle
lanes, the minimum width shall be 2.0 m.
The minimum width of Cycle Lane should be 1.2 m clear
of all obstructions on each side of the road and 1.0 m The Cycle Lane surface shall be sand
sealed for evenness yet adequate
away from the pavement edge. Each additional lane roughness for traction. Precast concrete tiles
where required should be 1.0 m. are not suitable.
Cycle Lanes shall be of the following types:
A. Cycle
Exclusive Lane:
NEPAL Urban Roads Standard 2071: Concept Note 10
Medians should be of uniform width in a particular section. Where deceleration or acceleration lanes
are to be provided or when the roadway is to be narrowed, a transition of 1 in 15 to 1 in 20 must be
provided.
6.3.5.Shoulder
Shoulders are not a part of urban roads. However where there is negligible pedestrian traffic or where from
drainage considerations no raised sidewalk could be provided, shoulders are required between
carriageway and property line to accommodate electric poles, traffic signs, underground service,
appropriate clearance to ensure proper vehicle placement and development of full carriageway capacity.
Shoulders should be sealed with a texture rougher than the carriageway to discourage driving and parking
on them. The width could be as prescribed by NRS.
6.3.6.Parking Lanes
Parking lanes width for parallel parking should be 2.5 m to 3.0 m.
6.3.7.Bus Stops
Busbays in recess shall be as specified in NRS.
The provision of bus-stop and taxi-stand
In case of space constraint for the recessed stop, bus without recess shall need a yet to be defined
stops could be provided by covering the side drain or lane marking to allow vehicles to overtake
the stopped vehicle while disallow the
making it flatter and using a part of the pavement. A
vehicles on the adjacent lane to cross the
series of rectangles of 2.5 m width and 8.0 m long shall lane line.
be marked on the pavement next to the kerb stone to
indicate bus stops. Each rectangle should bear the
assigned route number on which the bus is supposed to ply.
NEPAL Urban Roads Standard 2071: Concept Note 12
6.3.8.Taxi Stand
Taxi stands should preferably be located 20 m before an
Taxi stand shall be located where they do
intersection in a 2.5 m deep recess. If space is limited, not obstruct accesses, turning traffic and
2.0 m wide and 3.0 long space per car shall be marked visibility.
on the pavement and the side drain covered.
6.5.2.Setback
In order to provide the drivers adequate stopping sight distance, it needs to be ensured that any physical
objects on the inside of horizontal curves do not restrict it. The obstruction includes trees and poles as well.
The NRS may be referred to calculate the set-back.
6.5.3.Clearance to structure
Any poles or other structures on walkways flanking the road or the central median shall be 1.0 m away from
the pavement edge. However, this provision should not encroach into the designated area for other road
users. The walkway and Cycle Lane needs to be widened from their minimum value to accommodate
electric pole, flag stands and telephone cabinets.
6.5.4.Transition curve
When a vehicle traveling on a straight road shifts to a tangential circular path, it experiences jerk because
of the sudden centripetal acceleration starting at the tangent point. The severity of the jerk increases with
the speed of vehicle. Transition curves are provided to gradual introduction of the super elevation and extra
widening of carriageway needed at the horizontal curves.
The NRS may be referred to determine the minimum length of such curves, rate of change of super
elevation and ways to introduce it.
6.6.1.Gradient
The gradient should ideally be within 0.5% to 4.0% and never higher than 7%. In the road sections with
gradient higher than 4%, compulsory stopping device such as traffic signal or zebra crossings shall not be
provided.
When the gradient exceeds the maximum value, the road shall either be replaced with steps rendering it
unusable even for motorcycles and bicycles or the alignment needs to be changed.
6.6.2.Vertical curves
Summit curves in urban areas should be designed for safe stopping sight distance and they should be
coordinated with horizontal curvature. Valley curves on unlit urban roads should be such that for night travel
the headlight beam distance is the same as the SSD.
The NRS may be referred for type of vertical curve, way to introduce them and to determine the minimum
length of curve in relation to SSD.
6.6.3.Vertical clearance
Except for road under pedestrian bridges and wires, a Without strengthening the underlying layer,
vertical clearance of 5.5 m as per NRS shall be an asphalt overlay merely seals the surface
necessary only for Path and Sadak category of roads. to a limited time without adding to its
strength and elasticity. Soon the underlying
For Marg and Galli roads, 4.0 m clearance is adequate cracks are reflected on the new overlay. The
for light commercial vehicles and emergency vehicles. practice also causes drainage problem and
steepens the grade of accesses to the
adjacent properties.
6.6.4.Road level Preferably, the pavement surface shall either
be sand sealed periodically to prevent
The practice of adding layers upon layers of pavement cracking or dug out and re-laid to the original
periodically over the old surface shall be discontinued. level during rehabilitation.
The level of pavement, sidewalk and verges once fixed
shall remain the same for a minimum of 50 years.
6.6.5.Height of kerbs
NRS shall be referred for the shape and size of the kerb stones. The following types are recommended:
Barrier type: Built-up areas adjacent to footpaths with considerable pedestrian
traffic: to get a grade separation of 200 mm than the road pavement; Median and
channelizing islands where pedestrian should not have access.
Semi-barrier type: Within the roadway at mountable islands, pedestrian
refuse and to separate Cycle Lane or where motorable access to the abutting
property is to be given: to get a grade separation of 100 mm than the road
pavement;
NEPAL Urban Roads Standard 2071: Concept Note 15
6.7.2.Overpass
Along heavily trafficked Path and Sadak category of urban roads overhead pedestrian crossings shall be
provided under the following conditions:
If stopping of vehicular traffic for more than 15 seconds results in locking of preceding intersections;
If stopping at at-grade crossings significantly reduce the cruising speed of long distance traffic.
The width of the overhead walkway shall be designed as for normal walkway. The rise of the stair shall not
be more than 150 mm and tread shall be about 300 mm wide. There shall be a continuous track along the
staircases for towing bicycles up and down the bridge. An overpass at an intersection shall preferably have
staircase to all the road legs meeting at the intersection.
6.7.3.Underpass
At the Path-Path and Sadak-Path intersections where the pedestrian and wheelchair-bound traffic volume
is higher than 100 per minute for more than an hour pedestrian underpass shall be constructed. The
minimum width shall be as follows:
NEPAL Urban Roads Standard 2071: Concept Note 16
7.0 m wide and 4.0 high for underpass combined with underground shopping centres
The entry to the underpass shall be wheelchair-friendly with maximum 9% longitudinal gradient. In case of
stair, the rise shall not be more than 150 mm and tread shall be about 300 mm wide.
The underpass for motorized vehicles shall be as provisioned in NRS.
6.8. Provision for the Special Users
Special provision shall be made for the following road users:
Pedestrian with vision impairment
Pedestrian with hearing impairment
Wheel-chair bound road users
Parents with pram
Small children
Senior citizens with walking stick
6.8.1.Ramped Sidewalks
The walkways and cycle lanes shall be ramped down to the level of mountable kerb at 7% at level
pedestrian crossings.
6.8.2.Tactile paving
Tactile paving is done with two different tiles of size 300 mm x 300 mm with 5 mm thick profile as follows.
Dotted tile where it is required to stop or change the direction of movement
Long profile tiles where there is no hindrance to walking
NEPAL Urban Roads Standard 2071: Concept Note 17
Tactile tiles are paved 300 mm on the inner side of walkway edge (kerb line)
Underground utilities not located under road pavement to avoid traffic detour during servicing and for
safety concerns
Minimization of poles and use of underground duct for aesthetics
6.9.1.Water pipes
The water mains shall be at 1.0 m depth below the walkway or the median strip. The house connection
could be at 0.5 m depth.
NEPAL Urban Roads Standard 2071: Concept Note 18
6.9.2.Electrical lines
The overhead electrical lines shall be at least 5.5 m above the road pavement when along the road and 6.0
m above at road crossings with the poles at the inner edge of the walkways or on the median strip. The
underground electric cable should be at least 2.0 m from the building line and at 1.5 m depth under the
walkways or the median strip.
6.9.5.Side drain
Side drains along the pavement edge shall be "tick" shaped. The collector drains under the walkways could
either be of concrete pipes or covered U channel.
NEPAL Urban Roads Standard 2071: Concept Note 19
Dotted yellow line to delineate stopping place for bus and taxi where recess cannot be provided
Parallel dotted and continuous white lines to indicate lane crossing is allowed only from the dotted side
NEPAL Urban Roads Standard 2071: Concept Note 20
6.11.Street lighting
Referring to the standards set by Los Angeles Department of Public Works, the following illumination
standards are recommended. To avoid cluttering, number of additional poles shall be minimized by using
existing utility poles and buildings. To keep the costs low, instead of conventional mercury vapor and metal
halide lamps, fluorescent tubular and LED lamps shall be chosen.
Location Average luminous flux on Uniformity Ratio Mounting height (m)
pavement (Lux) (Eav /Emin)
Path 6 3 >9<10
Sadak 4 4 >7.5<9
Marg 3 6 >7.5<9
Path-Path intersection 18 3 >9<10
NEPAL Urban Roads Standard 2071: Concept Note 21