The Kathmandu Metropolitan City has installed ‘on-demand pedestrian crossings’ at 36 locations to prioritise pedestrian safety. The system is currently operational at 13, with the first installation being at BabarMahal, targeting important locations such as Thamel, Pradarshani Marg, Babbazaar, Tahachal, and others. Technical work is ongoing to make the system functional at the remaining sites by the end of this fiscal year.

The on-demand crossing technology, costing approximately Rs 1 million, can be turned on when the passersby press the button. For the current fiscal year, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City has allocated a budget of Rs 20 million for the implementation of this project.

The Pelican system works by displaying a green signal for pedestrians at the zebra crossing when they activate the button. The green light lasts for 30 seconds, while the vehicles are shown a red signal. After 30 seconds, the system can be activated again after a two-minute waiting period. This system primarily targets pedestrian safety in crowded areas near schools and hospitals. On-demand Pedestrian crossing is popular in Australia and European countries like the UK, Ireland, Germany, and others.