Paradox of Transportation system in Nepal

Paradox of Transportation system in Nepal

Nabin Rajbhandari

The transportation section of Nepal (for those who don’t know Nepal is that really small country squished between India and China). Well, the public transportation in Nepal, though a necessity; faces a problem. It strives to be cheap to the general public when the taxation levied upon it is so heavy. Consequences of inefficient traffic system and unsafe traveling methods are soon to follow after that. Although, there are countries with transportation which are in far more pitiful state than this small country, it is the terrain that plays a major role, which makes a consistent and sustainable public transportation system impossible in the country. To let you get a picture of the image that I am trying to create for you, the change in terrain is from 60m to 8848m in elevation. 8848m being the highest point on the planet.  Of course, we are not going to build a road to the top of Mt. Everest, but this gives the general idea in the change in terrain. This change in terrain is within a distance approx 200km. I guess if I was traveling the width of Nepal in a straight road, the gradient of the road would be of 2.5°. I assume that wouldn’t be a problem if it weren’t for the deep gorges which are hundreds of meters deep, to one of the most turbulent white water rapids in the world.

I do not mean to be insulting to the management of the transportation system of this small country. Even, such a corporate country as America has a poor public transportation system if you have to go from one state to another. America is a great country but you have to own a car to survive (with the exception of New York, as I have heard). The people of this third world country need a good transportation system. But it is a far cry from easily possible. We break this down and look at why it is such a case as this article progresses. 

A landlocked country through the ages does not have any prospect of traveling by boat except for the occasional crossing of the turbulent river or the leisure fishing in the summer breeze. Hmm, then you might think, “A good railway system would solve the entire problem!!” how would you build a good railway system with deep gorges every couple of kilometers. In, some of the most rural areas , airports are the only possible way that they are in contact with the rest of the world and a way that they can get supplies. Obviously, I would like to remind you that the Tenzing-Hillary Airport or the Lukla Airport ranked number one in History channels “ world’s most extreme airports” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVQg1k87H0I&feature=youtu.be also in another separate online article the capitals (Kathmandu) international airport fell in the top 10 worst international airport of the world. Airplanes are nice, but it is not feasible for the population of approx 27 million. Aha! Then comes the favorite among all the people of the world Cars! Bikes! And the lesser favorable ones: Buses. Yeah they are great …. On long stretches of road where you are able to accelerate to 90 miles/ hour or a decent 120 km per hour, where it gets your adrenaline rushing to your head. That is not going to be a regular thing in a country like Nepal.

Geologically, the country is very young, with soft soil underneath it, which makes it very difficult to construct a sturdy lasting road, resulting in various anomalies in the road. The magnificent geography of the country is a result of a terrible accident, drunk driving! You may consider it (where was the breathalyzer when you need it). You see… the drunk Indian subcontinent , driving along the tectonic surface and somewhere along the pacific ocean , lost control of the steering wheel and crashed into the Eurasian subcontinent (I think this was before the Jurassic period) which resulted in such big dents called the Himalayas. Taking from the small country, which would have been maybe the most beautiful beaches in the world, and hacking the legs of the prosperous potential sea commerce that we could have had (of course the British would have easily invaded and ruled for more than 200 years; looking at the current political situation that doesn’t look to be too bad) . Well, we can dream right!!!

All of this seems very nice but I still have not addressed the title: “Paradox of Transportation system in Nepal”. What is the paradox you probably scream by now? Patience my dear, patience…. all in good time.

Paradox by itself means a statement or situation which contradicts itself. Being the artist that I am let me paint you a picture. Your passion is cars, you are in a different country, you just bought a new car, and as soon as you buy the car you have to transfer to Nepal on a job. You have to be in the country for the next … say 5 years. So you decide to bring the car with you. Hmmm……. you land!!!! The first thing you realize at the customs …. You are paying more on taxes than you paid on the car. Yes, the “tax” is more than two hundred percent. So in total, you are paying 3 times the total worth of the car!!!

Does that make your head swing? Wait! We still haven’t reached the paradox.

A poor country with rich few and poor galore …scandals!!!! Public transportation is a necessity. Road safety is a myth. The majority of the public demand concession in the price of transportation, which we can say is granted even though the price has risen in the recent years. so the owners of the vehicles are paying more to buy vehicles which they use for cheaper earnings(I am right now considering the plight of vehicle owner, I do not claim that the rate they are charging is a cheap one, though it seems that way compared to other countries )

By charging a relatively cheaper price for transporting cargo (mostly people … but occasionally chickens, goats and buffalo's do enter the scene) they are earning relatively less than what they were expecting to earn .so what do these situation victims do …they pack the cargo in to vehicles like the cans of packed tuna you find in the local department stores. Does this affect the road safety you ask? Definitely!!! The life of the vehicle and road is hampered.

The overly priced vehicle being overly packed have to undergo  more obstacle … the unforgiving terrain of the country , with the constant changes in elevation and the poor condition of the road as the result of the ever-changing weather , weak geology, in efficient traffic planning and failure to implement proper traffic rules and laws , poor construction material, difficult construction situation , unusually high fuel prices( currently at $5.25 per gallon or Rs 125 per liter, this is the fuel charge where majority of the people are living on a dollar a day , UNBELIEVABLE!!!!). I should but I will not mention political situation of the country, cause, only things which have the hope of improvement should be mentioned …. But the political situation of the country is obviously going to the …..I said I will not mention it, he he

In sum, the transportation paradoxes are:

Exorbitant vehicle prices

Cheap vehicle fares (under individual opinion)

Extreme weathers

Unstable soil/road conditions

Road condition

Fuel prices

But from dusk to dawn and back to dusk, the lone rider must ride ….with about a 100 people packed behind him!!! J