Govt to enforce countrywide ban on vehicles older than 20 yrs from March 15

KATHMANDU, Jan 6: The government is to strictly enforce the imposed ban on vehicles older than 20 years countrywide from next month.

According to the Department of Transport Management (DoTM), under the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, the ban will be strictly enforced from March 15 with an objective to control air pollution and traffic congestion.

Currently, such out-dated vehicles are banned from operating inside the Kathmandu valley. On 14 March 2016, the Cabinet decided to remove old public vehicles as per the five-year strategic plan proposed by the Physical Infrastructure and Transportation Ministry by 14 March 2018.

However, only a dozen such vehicles have been booked in the past year. The plan to ban vehicles has hit snag due to objection of transport entrepreneurs, who claim that if the ban is imposed without proper planning, people who own second-hand vehicles will bear huge loss.

According to DoTM estimation, more than 2000 out-dated vehicles are still operating across the country.

DoTM said it will cancel the route permit of such vehicles as they are not technically fit. It said it will coordinate with traffic police and conduct inspection three times a week inside the valley and once a week outside the capital.

“If anyone is found violating the rule, will be fined Rs 5000 as per the Traffic Management Regulation Act,” stated DoTM.