Govt takes vital decisions to ease Dashain travel

Kathmandu, Sept. 21: Minister for Energy,  Physical Infrastructure and Transport, and Urban Development, Kul Man Ghising, has instructed concerned authorities to ensure round-the-clock monitoring of road conditions and rapid response mechanisms during the festive travel period.

During a high-level meeting held on Saturday, Minister Ghising emphasised the importance of listening to public complaints 24 hours a day and taking swift action to clear roads blocked due to landslides or other obstructions. He said the safety and convenience of passengers traveling for festivals must be a top priority.

The discussion was attended by senior officials including the Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Director Generals of the Department of Transport Management and the Department of Roads, representatives from Nepal Police, and officials from the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs.

Minister Ghising highlighted that with increased travel during the festive season, especially Dashain and Tihar, effective coordination and rapid restoration are critical to ensuring road safety and minimising disruption.

During the meeting, they have made a key decision for making transportation smooth, road improvement and upgrading and security management issues as well, 

The meeting decided to hold discussions with the concerned parties regarding the Nagdhunga-Sisneri tunnel route, to ensure that public passenger vehicles, among the vehicles leaving the Kathmandu Valley, exit the tunnel route and to allow the above-mentioned vehicles to enter after Dashain, according to Minister Ghising's secretariat.

It has been decided to request the Ministry of Home Affairs to direct the Nepal Police to increase police patrols and police numbers to ensure tight security at the new bus park in Kathmandu Valley and various highways in the country.

Due to the poor condition of the highways and the need to prioritise the movement of passenger vehicles, the meeting has decided to request that large heavy vehicles (12 wheels and above) not operate on the Daunne section of the Butwal-Narayangdh road during Dashain period.

However, it has been decided to ensure that vehicles transporting essential goods, including food will continue to operate.

The high-level meeting has decided to direct the Department of Roads to carry out necessary work to maintain and improve the main roads across the country, to manage the necessary materials and equipment to manage landslide disasters, to operate two-lane traffic 24 hours a day on the Daunne section of the Butwal-Narayangadh road, to remove the obstruction (landslide) in the Tuin River on the Narayangadh-Muglin road section and immediately bring traffic into operation.

Similarly, it has been decided to direct the Department of Roads to bring the main road connecting the Tatopani checkpoint into operation before Dashain.

The meeting has made a decision to issue a public notice requesting the general public to travel only after understanding the weather and road conditions.

Minister Ghising has decided to direct the Department of Transport Management to prepare a procedure/guideline in regard to making public vehicles safe and technology-friendly and submit it to the ministry as soon as possible.

It has been decided to instruct the Department of Roads to establish control room and manage and appoint a focal person to operate 24 hours a day to ensure the condition and safety of roads across the country.