The government has decided to implement a time-card provision in all long- and short-route public vehicles targeting the upcoming festival season to discourage and prevent possible road accidents.
A meeting of the committee formed on September 23 under the coordination of Joint Secretary and Spokesperson for the Home Ministry Fanindra Mani Pokharel on Saturday made 14-different decisions, including the implementation of time card in public vehicles. The government had formed a six-member body led by Pokharel to prevent road accidents and manage traffic during the festivals.
The meeting has also taken decision to strictly prohibit passengers to travel by sitting on the roofs of vehicles and hanging from doors due to excessive crowding of passengers during the festivals.
The decisions made public by the Ministry after meeting this afternoon include —managing first-aid kit, sticker with necessary information such as of police hotline number and placing an indicator in case of an accident in every vehicle, arranging sanitization of the vehicles, contacting the police in case the driver drives vehicles in unnatural manner, and easy accessibility of police and transport entrepreneurs’ names to register complaints, if any.
Similarly, the meeting has decided to arrange mechanical test of the vehicle by the Department of Transport Management in major locations of the Valley in coordination with officials of ticket sellers of medium and long-distance vehicles, traffic police and transport professionals.
Further, the meeting decided to appoint a contact person (focal person) from the Federation of Transport Professionals in each province and district to provide information, including the telephone number of the transport operators, drivers for the smooth operation of the vehicles.
Arrangement is made to not give a route permit to uninsured vehicles as it will be difficult to pay compensation, and vehicles without mechanical inspection may cause accidents in the middle of the road. The mechanical test of the vehicles should be done by the mechanical team managed by the DoTM.
Also, the meeting decided to carry out emergency and surprise checking on the highways to discourage drivers from driving vehicles under the influence of alcohol. Such checking should be done by Nepal Police and traffic police. Regarding the use of narcotic drugs, arrangements will be made to check using the test kit from the office under the Narcotics Control Bureau.
Likewise, the divisional road office has been given responsibility in coordination with the province and local bodies to fill the potholes of the highways and improve the condition of the roads. In case of an accident and if air rescue is required, the Federation of Transport Professionals should bear the cost of air rescue and treatment.
Further, the meeting has decided to arrange for testing the food of hotels and restaurants on the highways through the market monitoring committee in the district.
Compulsory implementation of managing two drivers in long-distance vehicles will be ensured by Nepal Police with immediate action if not found implemented.
There will be monitoring provision of all vehicles by the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and transport entrepreneurs throughout the travel until they reach the destination safely, and immediate rescue operation will be conducted in case of an accident.
The meeting also decided to manage refreshment centres or rest points of the vehicles in a particular place identified by the government in coordination with transport entrepreneurs.
Source : TRN,
