Kathmandu, June 2

The Department of Transport Management has declared Ring Road, its inner areas and some other trunk roads of Kathmandu valley, a no-go zone for freight vehicles, both heavy and light ones, from 8:00am to 7:00 pm.

A notice issued by the DoTM said the restriction would come into effect from June 16. However, this rule will not be applicable on public holidays. Emergency vehicles, including those transporting water, milk, cooking gas, vegetables, medical equipment and medicines will be exempt from the restriction.

“Freight vehicles will not be allowed to ply the Ring Road, inner areas and other designated roads from 8:00am to 7:00pm, except public holidays,” it said. The restriction on the movement of tippers are already in place. Movement of trucks, tippers, power trailer tractors and light freight vans have been blamed for the worsening traffic congestion in major thoroughfares of the valley during peak hours.

Unregulated use of freight vehicles to load and unload construction materials and other goods on the roadside during rush hours have been causing traffic congestion in the valley. Besides the Ring Road and its inner roads and core city areas of Bhaktapur, the restriction will be enforced on road segments—Chabahil-Jorpati, Gopikrishna-Kapan, Narayan Gopal Chowk-Budhanilkantha, Samakhusi-Grande Hospital, Balaju-Goldhunga, Kalanki-Thankot, Bagdol-Nakkhu, Satdobato-Harisiddhi and Gwarko-Chapagaun, according to DoTM.