By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Sept. 30: The government has imposed a ban on the plying of the heavy vehicles along the Naghdhunga-Naubishe road section of Prithivi Highway throughout the festival period.
The government’s move came after a 35-year old Rup Lal Sah, of Garuda Municipality-8 in Rautahat district, died on the highway due to heavy traffic jam on September 27. He was a kidney ailment patient. He was travelling on a bus during the incident.
According to Superintendent of Police (SP) and spokesperson at MTPD Rabi Kumar Poudel, traffic administration has put a temporary ban on the heavy vehicles like lorries and trucks having 10 and 18 wheels from plying on this road.
According to SP Poudel, vehicular movement along the Prithvi highway is currently moving smoothly without any major problem. But the vehicles’ queue is seen for some minutes just to facilitate the entry and exit formality at the Naghdhunga-Thankot check post, he said.
Minister for Home Affairs Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal on Friday had instructed the traffic chief of Kathmandu Valley, DIG of Metropolitan Police Office, and CDOs of the Kathmandu Valley to address the problem of traffic jam of the valley during the festival time. During the meeting, Home Minister Thapa had also instructed the Dhading district officials to address the problems of the highway traffic jam.
SP Poudel said that blacktopping works that began along the Prithvi Highway a few days ago, was also halted after the government’s instruction.
Meanwhile, the MTPD has set up 14 traffic help desks in the Kathmandu Valley for addressing traffic related problems like fraud in ticket selling, selling ticket and managing another seat in the bus, overcrowding of buses, and tendency of putting passengers on rooftop of the buses and other vehicles.
“We will also monitor compulsory provision of managing two drivers in a long route travel and overload, drink and drive cases,” he said.
Around 1,000 traffic policemen will be deputed in the Kathmandu Valley’s road to check the unruly drivers and drink-driver cases during the festive periods, he said.

Surprise checking will be conducted at major roads and several nooks and corners of the valley throughout the period, he said.
Similarly, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sarbendra Khanal addressing a function organised by Gongabu-based Traffic Police Office in New Bas Park, said that the traffic police have worked to make the travel of every passenger safe at any time.
Necessary security preparation and awareness programmes are afoot to manage smooth traffic management during the festival hour and punish the unruly drivers, he said.
On the occasion, IGP Khanal felicitated seven drivers, who had been in the profession for past 35 years and involving in safe driving in the highway every year. It was also a duty of every passenger to make their travel safe and smooth throughout their travel time until they reach to their destination, he said. Passengers too need to remain alert for putting a curb on the tendency of over speeding and over loading the buses, he said.