Kathmandu, February 28:

Metropolitan Traffic Police Division, Ramshahpath, today launched a ‘traffic week’ campaign to make people aware of traffic rules to minimise road accidents.

IGP Ramesh Chand Thakuri said awareness programmes would have positive impact on people. He said increasing urbanisation and rising number of vehicles were the main reasons for rising road accidents. Launching the campaign, Thakuri said joint effort from all sectors could minimise road accidents. He said awareness could decrease road accidents by 50 per cent.

SSP Indra Kumar Neupane informed that the number of vehicles had increased by 300 per cent in the last 15 years. He warned that road mishaps would increase further if vehicle import were not controlled. “If only 50 per cent of the revenue from the roads is invested in making roads systematic, accidents will automatically decrease,” he said. He also called for a separate transportation board to look after the issues related to roads.

Janardan Adhikari, programme coordinator, Eurasia Reiyukai, urged youths to take up the challenge of solving road problems. Though a week was not enough to make people aware, it can be an initiative for the same, he said.

Director General of Transportation Management Division Sarad Chandra Nepal and Kathmandu CDO Bhola Prasad Siwakoti also spoke on the occasion.