Baneshwor, encompassing areas like New Baneshwor, Mid-Baneshwor, and Old-Baneshwor, has evolved into Kathmandu's largest residential zone. This transformation has been marked by significant urban development, positioning Baneshwor as a central hub for business, education, and governance.
With the emergence of prime colleges such as Apex College, Kantipur College of Management and Information Technology (KCMIT), Baneshwor has solidified its role as an educational centre. Upon inquiring why colleges emerged in this area, the principal of a college said, “This college was established in Baneshwor mainly due to easy accessibility to the main road, availability of convenient public transportation, cheap land value and close proximity to the main educational hub of Putalisadak.” He also informed about the impacts of such colleges upon the urban space as “While colleges have created job opportunities, increment in land value, educational facilities and executed community development programs, they also act as a catalyst for urban sprawl that we are facing today.” With the increment in the number of colleges and other businesses, traffic congestion in Baneshwor has escalated abruptly. The principal of another college, also added on the reason behind college surge “Baneshwor being itself a strength, stakeholders are confident on gaining maximum profits even with little investment here. Also, marketing is very easy since this area itself is highly urbanized.” Such college districts also attract migrant students from outside the Kathmandu Valley, since there are enough hostels there. Alternatively, hostels as well attract more youths, because of the presence of renowned colleges.
Despite the beneficial outcomes, colleges have been facing issues regarding noise pollution from nearby commercial and residential areas. Moreover, they have been encountering degradation in the quality of education due to recruitment of inexperienced teachers and lack of commitment among students. Furthermore, noise disturbance due to direct vicinity with the residential and commercial areas, and traffic congestion due to the growing number of forms built are other challenges faced.
Such educational institutions have led to the development of a new micro business, known as Chiyalayas. Students usually visit the tea shops for gatherings and self-relaxation, which has helped tea shops to raise their daily income. An owner of such tea-hub stated that the main reasons behind appearance of such chiyalas, were the high population of residents and hostelers. Such tea shops are mainly occupied by elderly people during morning, students during afternoon, and mixed users during the evening time, which have helped in raising substantial earnings. Upon inquiring why people like to come at chiyalayas, a customer said, “It is because chiyalayas offer budget friendly local tea, and provide pleasant space for social communion. Chiyalayas are more than just about tea!” Hence, the study found that social bonding, economic prosperity and livability of urban spaces can indeed go hand in hand.
Additionally, chiyalayas also have various impacts upon the community. While social communion, public space enhancement, small business growth, utilization of public space, street activation, safety and affordability are their major strengths, overcrowding, over urban consumption, environmental impacts and negative social influences among youngsters are the drawbacks. Nevertheless, the study also found out that such chiyalayas, were compelled to transform from small tea shops into bigger ones due to increment in the number of visitors and were on the verge of expansion into a larger one.
Another new business venture was hostels, which were established due to the large number of colleges and young migrants in Baneshwor. One of the hostel wardens stated that private hostels are in high demand, as they allow college students to work part-time, which college hostels would not have offered. Despite social bonding, cultural exchange and affordable accommodation being some other merits for hostelers, they also have been facing issues such as noise pollution and road safety. Such hostels are usually preferred by migrant students who want to pursue higher education in Baneshwor, while staying at affordable accommodation. Working part-time at nearby locations is a popular trend, especially among male hostelers, that allow them to make earnings. Also, another culture of shifting from hostel to rental space with close friends, particularly for independence and freedom, is popular among them.
Hence, through the field observation and interviews, findings regarding how educational institutions can demand affordable accommodations to emerge, how such accommodations in proximity can help in social communion, how they help create further small ventures emerge, and how they are easily affected by urban issues and youth culture were noted.
Despite chiyalayas and hostels, other micro-businesses such as stationery, gift shops, beauty parlors, tuition centres and khaja-ghar have also emerged, which are indirectly helping each other prosper their business. With the growing modernization, new commercial malls, high-end restaurants and clothing stores have also appeared. Moreover, many office spaces have been established targeting not only the residentials, but also the college students, who want to work part-time for pocket expenses.
In conclusion, the overall study findings highlight the cause-effect relationship between different agencies of urban growth, that include government agencies, private sectors, educational institutions, transportation networks, and socio-cultural factors. The research outcomes underscore the importance of integrating not just physical structures in a community, but the livability, peoples’ sentiments, economy and self-sustainability while planning/ designing any urban space. The study results also emphasize Baneshwor's transformation into a vibrant urban center that reflects Kathmandu's broader urbanization trends. While such developments have brought economic and educational opportunities, they also necessitate sustainable planning to address challenges such as environmental degradation, social inequity and infrastructure deficits.
