Kavre, August 18

Following the recent tragic bus accident in Kavre, authorities have imposed a ban on the operation of commuter vehicles on unauthorised roads.

Twenty-seven persons had died and 43 others were injured when a commuter bus met with an accident at Khahare Khola in Birta Deurali-9 on Monday.

In the wake of the tragedy, the District Traffic Police Office, acting on the directives of the Ministry for Physical Management and Transportation, introduced the new provision as per which passenger vehicles can’t ply on roads for which route permits are yet to be issued.

District Traffic Police Chief Inspector Sukadev Khanal said the rule was enforced from yesterday.

“Ever since implementing the new rule, vehicles plying on the Kathmandu-Koshipari and Banepa-Dapcha routes have started returning from Dolalghat and Kavre Bhanjyang,” said Khanal, adding that traffic police personnel have been deployed to ensure the ban is upheld.

Dozens of buses plying on the Kathmandu-Koshipari route used to travel via Kattikedeurali, Madankundari, Phalante, Mulabari, Dhandkharba, Guranse, Salle Bhumlu, and Salambu.

Similarly, Helambu Transportation buses and buses belonging to other committees were plying freely on the Banepa-Deupur, Banepa-Nayagaun, Banepa-Chandeni routes, which were unauthorised road sections, putting passengers’ lives at risk.