Nepal, Oct. 11 -- Fifty years ago, The World Bank ranked Nepal as the sixth poorest country in the world. But even back then Kathmandu already had a small but modern, efficient public transportation system.

It did not run on imported diesel but locally produced hydroelectricity. Unfortunately, like other well-designed, well-intentioned development projects in Nepal, the Bhaktapur trolley bus route was allowed to rust away - just like the cargo ropeway service joining Kathmandu to the plains.

The Chinese built a 115km road from Bhaktapur to Kodari to the border (the Arniko Highway) in 1964. The road from Thapathali to Bhaktapur was improved in 1969, and four years later, the Chinese agreed to install the trolley bus service on the 13km ...