Kathmandu, July 6

With a view to managing and regulating traffic in Kathmandu Valley, the authorities have decided to impose a ban on parking vehicles in greenbelt areas along the Ring Road from Sunday.

A joint meeting of Metropolitan Traffic Police Division, Transport Management Office and various transport

associations took a decision to this effect yesterday.

“The greenbelt has been declared a no-parking zone. Any vehicle parked on greenbelt of the Ring Road will be detained before initiating action against the concerned driver,” read a press release issued by Metropolitan Traffic Police Division. The greenbelt, where building is not allowed, is a policy for controlling urban growth.

According to the Motor Vehicle and Transport Management Act, competent authorities may slap a driver with a fine of Rs 1,500 if he/she parks his/her vehicle in a restricted place.

MTPD has directed its all 35 units in the Valley to strictly enforce the rules along the 27-km Ring Road. Officials said this move aims to regulate traffic system and reduce road accidents. It is also part of the drive to clear the greenbelt, 25 meters on either side of the road.

Vehicle parking on greenbelt, mainly the Kalanki-Chabahil stretch, is a common sight and is causing inconvenience to the pedestrians and normal traffic operation. The officials informed that traffic and civil cops would be deployed to monitor the Ring Road area and take action against the guilty. Transport entrepreneurs have been using greenbelt areas to park vehicles due to the lack of adequate parking spaces in Kathmandu.

Meanwhile, traffic police have decided to limit the arrival and departure point of long-route vehicles to Gongabu bus park. “No long-route vehicle will be allowed to leave Kathmandu from places other than the Gongabu bus park. Similarly, vehicles coming to Kathmandu from other districts will be obliged to go to the same bus park through Kalanki,” said DIG Mingmar Lama, MTPD in-charge.

Traffic police said they would convince the drivers of long-route vehicles to follow the rules in the first phase before initiating action against the violators. “Action against erring drivers will begin from July 16,” informed MTPD.