Uncontrolled sand processing mills behind increasing road mishaps in Dhading

MALEKHU: A discussion on 'Lowering road accident' held at Ghatbesi of Dhading on Thursday concluded with a resolution to come up with concrete actions towards reducing road mishaps.

On the occasion, various stakeholders including chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of rural municipalities along the road side had pledged to device strategic efforts to lessen road accidents.

The programme was organised by Gajuri Rural Municipality with the assistance of Nepal Auto Mobiles Association. Recently elected federal and provincial parliamentary members, District Coordination Committee Chair Jagannath Nepal, Chief District Officer Shyam Bhandari, Superintendent of Police Dhruba Raj Rawat, all security bodies' chiefs, and chairs and vice-chairs of all rural municipalities along the road side stressed the need for the local government to prepare long-term strategy on the safety of highway and passengers.

The highway has seen disruptions due to rampant sand processing mills in the area from Gajuri of Dhading to Nagdhunga, said Traffic Engineer Ashish Gajurel. He underlined the need to renovate the highway which is a national treasure through which people from 70 districts travel.

The resolutions made at the meeting include setting up of rescue centre equipped with human resource and security officials, conducting public awareness creating programmes, checking the rampant movement of heavy vehicles and tippers, preventing the operation of sand processing mills along the road side, evacuating the road side areas, constructing pavement for pedestrians in the areas including bazaar and removing the huts near the highway.