[rts] Week 2 - some questions

[Rajendra Aryal]

Dear all,

Some of my concerns:

It is true that the participatory activities have taken place in Nepal
in the rural infratsructure development, and rural transport
infrastructure is always a component on its own. As regards the rural
transport services, there are certain examples of NMT from the plain
areas, whereas NMT does not seem feasible in the hilly areas. Few weeks
back I had a discussion with a consultant in this context, who wants to
build a demonstration "Wire Road", which operates under the gravity
force and could be used to bring the produce and cash crops from the
hills to the nearby markets. He wants to develop something similar which
is used in South America in the banana farms. We may have to look for
finances to have at least a demonstartion model in the coming days.

On the hill roads, which are actually designed as a low-volume, mostly
earthen or gravel  roads, light vehicles can ply. Most of the vehicles
are run by private parties, however, we also have examples of
co-operatives from fruit and vegetables production pocket areas, whihc
are running their own mini-trucks and jeeps.

In case of rural roads, maintenance management is a big problem. The
local governments are allowed to generate the resources. There are thus
examples of rural roads on which private contractors collect tolls. A
common feeling exists that the money paid by the contractor to the
district should go to the mainatenance of the particular road, and the
district should also be in a position to top over the collect amount for
the maintenance. However, it does not easily happen, as a result of
which the roads remain in poor condition. I again see here a major
problem of ownership as the central government still has a tendency to
allocate minor budgets for such roads to have their say and make the
process bureaucratically complicated.

Regards.

Rajendra Aryal

> In Nepal, much of the community participatory activities have taken
> place in the context of rural transport infrastructure development.
> Do we have similar examples in developing rural transport
> SERVICES?
>
> This list has a number of participants from a wide range of
> countries and institutions working on rural transport issues. I am
> sure some one will be able to respond to my questions.
>
> Thank you.
>
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