Traffic Jam in Koteshwor Area. Image Source: Kathmandu Post

A 7-day Trial Run: Tippers and Trucks Banned inside Ring Road during Office Hours

A new rule has hit the road in the valley. The government on Tuesday decided to launch a seven-day trial run of banning the tippers and trucks inside the ring road area during office hours in a bid to control the traffic congestion at Lokanthali, Jadibuti, Koteshwor, and Tinkune.

Yesterday, the joint meeting of the Department of Transport Management, Metropolitan Police Division, Truck and Tipper Entrepreneurs’ Federation, and National Federation of Transport Entrepreneurs took the decision to prohibit the tippers and trucks from plying on the area from 8:30 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. and from 3:30 P.M. to 6:30 P.M.

The decision aims to end the lengthy traffic jams in the Kathmandu Valley during the rush hours.

Metropolitan Police Division Chief, Mingmar Lama said the trucks and tippers coming to the capital city from Sindhupalchowk, Kavrepalanchowk, Dolakha, Ramechhap, and Sindhuli district would not be allowed to enter at the office hours. He further added, “The decision was taken to curb the traffic congestion, especially in Koteshwor area.”

Lama said, “We cannot stop the vehicles carrying passengers in the border. So, we have planned to discontinue the movement of large vehicles carrying heavy loads into the Valley.”

“If the 7-day trial proves successful, we will further continue the ban.”

After the Muglin-Narayangadh road, the major doorway to capital city remained inoperative during the night time, the traffic congestion was growing at Koteshwor area. With this new arrangement in place, the area is expected to see less traffic.

When the Muglin-Narayangadh road was operative round the clock, the BP Highway used to have 1,600 vehicles on a daily basis which later rose up to 6,000 making the traffic management very difficult after the closing of the Chitwan section.

Tokraj Pandey, Spokesperson of the Department of Transport Management informed that the trucks and tippers would not be allowed entering the capital city during the office hours in the valley.

He said, “The most traffic problem has occurred along the ring road area. Therefore, we have decided to ban tippers and trucks along with the mini-trucks from the ring road area during the office hours.”

Likewise, Rajendra Kumar Shrestha, Chairman of Truck and Tipper Entrepreneurs’ Federation said that they’re ready to stop operating vehicles on the rush hours if it was good for traffic management. The federation said as the valley lacked parking lots, the traffic jam was chaotic.

The vehicles violating the rule will be booked by the traffic police.

Let us know your views on our Government taking this step to ease the traffic congestion in the valley.

Reference: Kathmandu Post