Kathmandu, August 28

Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Ramesh Lekhak today said that the government was working to amend some transport related laws so that the driving licence of those killing anyone as a result of reckless driving could be scrapped.

Responding to queries raised by lawmakers participating in the discussion on the proposal of public importance, Lekhak said the government was working to introduce a bill in the Parliament for amending some transport related laws.

“The government needs help and support of the Parliament for all its new attempts,” he said, adding, “We have proposed scrapping the driving license of the driver, and road permit and registration of any public vehicle carrying passengers beyond capacity.” Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs is working on the provisions forwarded by the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport.

Minister Lekhak said they have proposed suspending for six months the license of the driver, and road permit and registration of any passenger vehicle found carrying cargo or goods.

As per the proposed provision, driving license of the driver and vehicle registration can be suspended for six months if a tourist vehicle is found carrying non-tourist passengers.

Similarly, if a private vehicle is found carrying passengers, driving license of the vehicle owner and registration of the vehicle can be suspended for six months.

Likewise, if public vehicles are found plying routes for which they do not have permit, the driving license of the driver and registration of the vehicle could be scrapped for six months, according to the proposed provisions.

According to Lekhak, if the proposed provisions are passed, registration and route permit of long-route passenger vehicles,which do not have at least two drivers, would also be scrapped, according to Lekhak. He said the implementation of these provisions would help minimise road accidents.

Minister Lekhak said the right to issue temporary route permit to vehicles had been delegated to chief district officers. He said the government hoped that this would help end the syndicate system in public transport.

Earlier, tabling the motion of public importance, CPN-UML lawmaker Rabindra Adhikari citing a report said five people died everyday in road accidents. “Those running syndicate cannot free themselves of the blame by accusing the drivers and traffic police,” Adhikari said.

UML lawmaker Ganesh Kumar Pahadi and lawmaker from Federal Socialist Forum Shivajee Yadav seconded the proposal and criticised the government for failing to control road accidents.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bimalendra Nidhi informed the meeting of Legislature Parliament about measures taken by his ministry to control road accidents.

Addressing the House meeting, Nidhi said local police had been instructed to take measures to control road accidents. He said the police have been instructed to carry out security check to prevent passenger buses from carrying passengers beyond capacity.

According to him, the police had been instructed to manage operation of vehicles as per the capacity of roads; issue permanent and temporary road permits to vehicles; and enforce the provision of two drivers for long-route vehicles.