Goods Carrier Vehicles Ban Policy yet to implement

By Bishnu Pandeya, Kathmandu, Feb 29: The policy of not letting the goods-carrying vehicles on the inner roads of the Kathmandu Valley in prohibited time has failed to be implemented. 

The Department of Transport Management had brought a policy in 2020 of not letting the large vehicles carrying goods commute on the roads in the Kathmandu Valley from 8 AM to 7 PM.  But, that is limited to just papers. 

Many tippers and large vehicles carrying goods are commuting on the roads unhinged as the policy is yet to come into effect. Roads are filled with traffic for many vehicles other than vehicles in urgency are going to and fro unhinged. 

The meeting held by the coordination of the then Director General Kumar Dahal in 2020 had decided to prohibit the operation or entrance of all kinds of goods-carrying vehicles besides those in urgent and emergency or during public holidays. Commute was allowed from 9 AM to 7 PM on public holidays. The decision was made to manage the traffic of the Valley. 

Ishwori Dutta Paneru, Information officer at the Department of Transport Management, accepts that the policy is yet to come into effect.

He said, “The decision should have come into effect. Traffic in the Valley will be managed only if the policy is promptly implemented.” 

Many complaints have come about the commute of the tipper. He said, “The complaints about the commute of tippers in restricted time are mounting. We can coordinate with the traffic police to regulate it.”

The Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office has been taking action against those gods carrying vehicles who are running on roads against the rules. 

Senior Superintendent of Police Jeevan Kumar Shrestha Spokesperson of the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office,  said, “There is a provision that the vehicles carrying goods can enter the valley from 9 PM till 5 AM. Action is taken against those that are found on roads besides the ascertained time. We have to regularly monitor it and take action if one fails to adhere to the rules. ”

He said, “The traffic has skyrocketed but the roads are in usual condition. Therefore, there is a need for coordination from all levels in line with managing the large public vehicles in inner roads.”

 “The implementation from the side of the government in line with the implementation of the decision on traffic management seems lacking,” said Vijay Bahadur Swar, President of the National Federation of Transport Entrepreneurs of Nepal.