Kathmandu, August 17
The government has decided to bar trucks, mini-trucks and tippers among all load-carrying vehicles from the Kathmandu Ring Road from 8 am to 7 pm everyday. The decision has come into effect from Thursday itself, according to the Department of Transport Management.
The decision aims to end lengthy traffic jams in Kathmandu Valley during rush hours.
DoTM spokesperson Tokraj Pandey says vehicles carrying petroleum products, cooking gas and drinking water will not be barred with the new rule.
DoTM chief Rup Narayan Bhattarai and Metropolitan Traffic Police Division chief Sarvendra Khanal had taken initiatives to take such a decision last week.
Meanwhile, the government also fixed parking spots for trucks entering the Valley and decided to impose a fine for failure to park the vehicles at allocated locations.
A parking spot has been set up in Naubise of Dhading for vehicles coming along Prithvi Highway. Likewise, Dhapakhel of Lalitpur has been fixed as the parking point for vehicles coming from Godavari.
Heavy vehicles coming to Kathmandu along BP Highway and Araniko Highway have to get stopped in Banepa of Kavre whereas those coming from Nuwakot will be barred in Jhor and Mude.
“We hope the new rule will solve traffic congestion of Kathmandu to a great extent,” says Pandey.
