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Kathmandu Friday August 31, 2001 Bhadra 15, 2058.
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Highway experience
Since 1995, I have often travelled from Hetauda to Kathmandu
and vice versa through the Prithvi-Mahendra highway. I have suffered increasing traffic,
have closely observed deteriorating road condition, have seen no maintenance of roads and,
of course, have encountered several road blockades due to landslides, especially during
summer. Besides, local people protests against road mishaps are regular phenomena. They
have halted vehicular service on the highway for hours.
One must have the nerve to cope with misfortune and also
possess contingent planning to travel through these highways to reach the destination.
Hold up due to the various factors has become a common phenomenon. Traffic jam for couple
of hours is not a big deal for local administration. Local administration and traffic
police start bothering only after hours of blockade.
One suggestion, which I would like to say, is that the
government can ask professional association of goods carrier inbound and outbound
Kathmandu-Hetauda-Birgunj to use only Tribhuwan highway to decrease traffic, pollution and
frequent jams. Mandatory provision that the heavy goods carrier vehicles should run
through the Tribhuwan highway providing certain incentive, which could be exempted from
the road tax and other facilities, can resolve many problems.
We are aware if government can endorse bills against the
spirit of constitution and democracy amendment bill on civil security act, freezing land
transaction, etc. I appeal the government to ban the use of Prithvi highway for those
vehicles carrying goods for the safety of the people, state property and also to reduce
pollution. People residing along the Tribhuwan highway can also benefit with the vehicle
movement. I guess human right activists will not interpret it otherwise.
Sai Ram Nepali
Huprachaur, Hetauda-4 |
