Transport in Mountains
An International Workshop
21-27 November 2010,
Kathmandu, Nepal

Improved mobility and accessibility is crucial for poor people in remote areas to pull themselves out of isolation and poverty.  The subject of transport, however, has always been a contentious one − and transport in the mountains especially so. In mountainous terrain, maintaining a balance between human development and preservation of the environment is critical – and planners cannot afford to ignore this.

At IFRTD’s international workshop on Transport in the Mountains held at the Godavari Village Resort in Kathmandu in November 2010, over 50 professionals, ranging from engineers to development workers from ten countries, explored the controversies that are likely to arise when planning infrastructure that enables transportation in the mountains. And what’s significant was that these issues were scrutinized from a perspective of mitigating social injustice and poverty – a clear recognition of the importance of equity in the provision of rural transport. The participants also identified knowledge and policy gaps in the area and recommended good practices for both practitioner and policy maker. The Godavari Statement of Intentwas one of the workshop’s key outcomes.

The Workshop also made a commitment to implement two comparative studies on labour conditions in transport infrastructure works and on community engagement in planning, implementing and monitoring different types of rural transport infrastructure in at least ten countries worldwide.

 

There are differences between the theoretical and practical aspects. Sharing practical knowledge is important. We’d like to see the recommendations we make turn into practice. We are making practical recommendations that can be translated into reality through government, multi-lateral agencies, civil society and the private sector.

Maria Arce Moreira
Executive Director, IFRTD

 

Extract from the address made by Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal to the Workshop:

Development, in my view, is a multidimensional goal as it calls for an upward movement of the entire socio-economic system of a nation. Unless a country prepares itself for such a comprehensive rise by building the necessary infrastructures including human resources and other necessary physical facilities, development remains lop-sided and unbalanced. As a developing country with high mountains and difficult hilly terrains making a large part of its territory, accessibility and mobility needs of the Nepalese people remain very high on our development agenda. Therefore, building roads, expanding transport networks and increasing connectivity have been in our national priority. However, in the face of resource constraints and other limitations characteristic of a developing country, inadequate development of transport infrastructure continues to adversely affect our development endeavour.

 

Transport solutions provided for the communities living in the mountainous areas have to be concerned about safeguarding the environment and geological structures. They need to go for more environment friendly technologies rather than trying to make connectivity just by road building. It will be really worth it to cut down long journeys by foot through various environment friendly small structures in order to make the remote villages connected to the existing road networks.

Ranjith de Silva
Regional Coordinator for Asia and the Pacific, IFRTD

 

Transport in Mountains
An International Workshop
21-27 November 2010
Kathmandu,
Nepal

 

Contact Us:

IFRTD,
CAN Mezzanine
49-51 East Road
N1 6AH
London

Tel: +44(0) 207 7250 8323,
Fax: +44 (0) 207 7250 8322,
Email: info@ifrtd.org

International Workshop on Transport in Mountains,
NFRTD,
c/o Trail Bridge Support Unit/ Helvetas Nepal
Pulchowk, Lalitpur, Kathmandu.
Nepal
Tel: +977-1-2111 225
Fax: +977-1-5526 829