Kathmandu: The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers has permitted a short-term action plan for traffic management in the Kathmandu valley.
According to the action plan, the Road Department(DoR) and Metropolitan Traffic Police Division (MTPD) have installed and operated traffic lights at Baneshwor, Singha Durbar, Gaushala, Maharajgunj, Kalimati, Tinkune, Padmodayamod, Putalisadak, Bagbazaar, Old Baneshwor and Mitrapark.
Smart technology will be brought to the Valley in June. The DoR and MTPD install additional footpaths on the busy streets of the valley. The action plan has appointed Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Lalitpur Metropolitan City, DoR and other municipalities to maintain the road section and determine the pit road.
The action plan reads that the DoR will extend the service lane on the left-hand side of the Koteshwar-Jadibuti road section and construct an overhead bridge at the appropriate location and take necessary steps to reduce traffic congestion in the area. Bishnumati, Bagmati, Dhobikola, Manohara corridors will be managed to avoid traffic congestion. The Nepal Oil Corporation and fuel tankers operators have been asked not to supply petrol or diesel to fuel stations (petrol pumps) from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm to reduce traffic jam. The concerned metropolitan cities will have to collect waste within 8:30 am.
The action plan envisions setting up a CCTV control room in MTPD to monitor traffic and the railings will be constructed on either side of busy roads, besides marking zebra-crossing. The portable overhead bridge will be installed at Koteshwor Chowk, Minbahwan, New Baneshwor, Babarmahal, Ramshahpath, Tripureshor, Kalimati Chowk, Airport Chowk, Thapathali Chowk and Chabahil Chowk within June.
According to the action plan, the government will also adopt ‘zero tolerance’ policy against traffic rule violators.
Source: THT
