Rajbiraj streets clogged by traffic chaos

By Binay Karna, Saptari (Kalyanpur), May 19: The lack of traffic regulation in the urban areas of Rajbiraj has not only made daily movement difficult but has also left the city looking disorganised and unsightly.

Indiscriminate parking on the roads and the growing practice of setting up shops—from signboards to vegetable stalls, on footpaths have further worsened the situation, obstructing movement and degrading the city’s appearance.

On Adalat road in Rajbiraj, from the District Court to Ram Mandir, roadside parking and haphazard vegetable vending have become routine, often causing daily traffic congestion. 

Similarly, congestion is frequently reported from the section between Neta Chok and the Hanumannagar Road junction on the main road, as well as on Siraha Road between Ram Mandir and Neta Chok, making it difficult even for pedestrians to walk safely, said ward member of Rajbiraj-7, Ramnandan Dev.

According to Rajbiraj-8 resident Sanjay Shekhar Nair, the municipality has so far failed to designate proper parking areas or manage street vendors operating on footpaths, which has contributed to the growing problem. He added that e-rickshaws arriving from across the district are a major cause of traffic congestion, stressing the need to allocate a separate area for them.

Ward member Dev further said repeated calls for traffic management at the municipality level have gone unheard, and that the absence of municipal police has made it difficult to control indiscriminate parking and restore order.

Rajbiraj Traffic Police Office Chief, Police Sub-Inspector Navaneet Kumar Jha, said haphazard parking has narrowed roads and increased the risk of accidents. He noted that blocked footpaths force pedestrians onto the road, while uncontrolled parking further constricts traffic flow, heightening the risk of accidents.

Meanwhile, Acting Mayor Israt Parveen of Rajbiraj Municipality said efforts would soon be initiated to address the issue. She pledged to hold discussions with the Chief District Officer and other stakeholders to reach decisions on resolving illegal parking and implementing them effectively.

Acting Mayor Parveen said that the recruitment process for municipal police has already begun, expressing confidence that once deployed, municipal police would help manage illegal parking and clear footpaths more effectively.

Rajbiraj, established in 2016 BS as Nepal’s first planned town, is widely regarded as the country’s first municipality developed with town planning. However, locals say it is unfortunate that even after 67 years, proper traffic management has still not been achieved.