Kathmandu, November 1
Ashish Gajurel, chairperson of the Infrastructure Development Committee, has called for a shift towards technology-based traffic management, saying Nepal should move away from the traditional practice of deploying traffic police at intersections to direct vehicles manually.
Speaking at an interaction on road safety and traffic management organised by the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office in the capital on Sunday, Gajurel said the government should invest more in smart traffic systems.
He said the primary responsibility of traffic police should no longer be to stand at intersections and direct vehicles with hand signals, but to enforce traffic rules and raise public awareness about road safety.
“We are increasing investment in smart traffic systems to make traffic management more efficient,” he said. “Work is under way to repair malfunctioning traffic lights and install new ones in the Valley.”
Gajurel also said the traffic control room would be upgraded and made more technology-friendly.
Responding to questions about the need for pedestrian overpasses, he said the full implementation of smart traffic lights could reduce reliance on such structures for crossing roads.
Citing practices in developed countries, where pedestrian overpasses are also used less frequently, he said investment would now focus more on intelligent transportation systems than on building overpasses.
“Our main investment will now be in intelligent transportation systems rather than pedestrian overpasses,” he said. “However, construction of overpasses will continue at locations where they are necessary.”
Gajurel also acknowledged concerns over the lack of basic facilities for traffic police deployed on roads, including proper places to sit, drinking water and toilets.
He pledged to take initiatives to ensure these facilities are provided to traffic police personnel who work outdoors in all weather conditions.
