The problems resulting from rapid urban growth, haphazard development, and general lack of planning have been apparent in the towns of the Kathmandu Valley for more than three decades. During that period, Kathmandu routinely experienced serious lack of access, deficiency of infrastructure, traffic congestion, and inadequacy of housing. These problems were compounded by the continuing damage to the valley's cultural heritage and the rapid loss of precious agricultural land to urban uses. In addition to these chronic deficiencies, severe environmental degradation now threatens the quality of life in the valley.
