Public vehicles violating traffic rules to be fined up to Rs 3000

KATHMANDU, May 21: In a bid to make everyday commuting comfortable for passengers in the capital, the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division (MTPD), following a strict direction from the home minister, has started taking action against public vehicles carrying passengers more than their capacities.

On Sunday alone, a total of 181 public vehicles having less than 18 seats plying various routes in the capital were fined by MTPD for carrying passengers more than their capacities.

“As per the direction from the home minister, we have launched a crackdown on public vehicles having less than 18 seats from Sunday. The vehicles found carrying passengers more than their capacity were fined Rs 500,” Deputy Spokesperson of MTPD, DSP Mukunda Marasaini said.

While majority of the fined public vehicles are micro buses, some of the public vehicles are also three-wheelers.

According to him, the public vehicles having less than 18 seats will be fined up to Rs 3,000 if found carrying passengers beyond capacity from Monday onward.

“A formal decision to fine up to Rs 3,000 to public vehicles violating traffic rules is being issued by the home ministry by Monday as per our information. Action against all public vehicles violating traffic rules will be taken accordingly,” DSP Marasaini said.

Last week, in a meeting which was attended by representatives of Nepal Police at the home ministry, Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa had strictly asked the security body to enforce traffic rules in the capital. One of the directions given by the home minister was to take action against public vehicles carrying passengers beyond their capacity and also those vehicles not picking up and dropping off passengers from and at the designated bus stops.

However, the MTPD is yet to implement his second direction. Public vehicles are still found stopping vehicles rampantly to pick up and drop off passengers.

DSP Marasaini said that all the directions given by the home minister regarding traffic management will be duly implemented.

Meanwhile, the MTPD also fined 191 taxis in the capital for not installing printing machines for commute receipt. After taxis were found reluctant to take passengers on meter, the government had made it mandatory for all the taxis to install printing machines and compulsorily handover commute receipt to passengers.

 
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• vehicles