Kathmandu. Following the tragic microbus accident at Chisapani Gadhi in Bhimphedi of Makwanpur district recently, the District Administration Office, Kathmandu has tightened the operation of public vehicles along the Balkhu-Dakshinkali-Hetauda road section.
In order to reduce the increasing number of road accidents and the fatal loss of life due to it, the district administration has issued an urgent notice on Friday (November 10) and implemented the new time table and standards for the operation of vehicles.
According to the notice signed by Chief District Officer Ishwar Raj Poudel, public vehicles going from Kathmandu to Hetauda via Balkhu-Dakshinkali will have to reach the police check post at Pharping by 8 pm. Similarly, public vehicles will be allowed to operate on the route from Balkhu only after 5 am.
The administration has directed the passenger vehicles to operate only after a thorough check of the mechanical condition. In addition, the police units, including the traffic police, located on the route in Kathmandu district, have been asked to make arrangements for mandatory checking of every vehicle.
At least 14 people including six members of a family were killed when an EV microbus en route to Sarlahi from Kathmandu to celebrate Chhath festival fell off a cliff at Chisapani Gadhi of Bhimphedi Rural Municipality-6 on Thursday morning.
According to the administration’s notice, the risk of narrow, steep and winding roads, use of vehicles with poor mechanical condition, negligence of drivers, over-speeding and traveling on dark roads at night is high. The administration has said that serious accidents are repeated due to excessive stress, insomnia, and the tendency to drive under the influence of alcohol and drugs due to frequent trips due to intense competition.
