Road Safety

TRAFFIC congestion and frequency of road mishaps have alarmingly increased in the Kathmandu Valley since the past few years. The increasing number of vehicles on road are not the only cause, there are other reasons which have to be analysed and necessary remedial measures taken. The accidents have led to the death of scores of people every year besides maiming many others for life. The roads and their condition may not be the only reasons, the flouting of the basic traffic rules by the vehicle drivers are often a cause of accidents. It is true that with the times, there is heavy pressure on the existing roads but if they are improved and the vehicles made to follow the rules and regulations without fail then definitely there can be an improvement in the present condition thereby leading to fewer accidents to the relief of all. The road length or their width has not increased appreciably except for some stretches but the number of vehicles plying on them have increased drastically. This point must be noted when it comes to managing traffic. The concern has been there in the air since a long time but some initiatives was taken only on the eve of the recently concluded 11th SAARC Summit. Whatever was achieved within a short span of time was noteworthy but far from enough.

It was in keeping with the needs that work is to be initiated to improve the road intersections at ten major points in Kathmandu Valley. The deal for such was struck between the government and a Japanese company in October last year. The project to be completed by March 2003 will cost is 1.3 billion yen.The improvement work was initiated the other day with the foundation stone being laid for Maitighar intersection improvement. Once the major intersections are improved it is hoped that the road accidents will be reduced greatly. The improvement works is to be mainly related to maintenance of the traffic signs and lights, repair of footpaths and drains, railings and flag poles. Road improvement in Kathmandu is fine but there is also a need to study the situation of roads and intersections in other growing urban centres in the country. The government also has the added responsibility to see that road accidents on highways and other cities are reduced by chalking out necessary improvement measures. Safety on roads in a country like ours is vital.

Wilful Negligence

DURING a surprise check carried out at 17 government offices in Siraha district by the Siraha Administration Office the other day, 14 gazetted officers and 113 non-gazetted employees were found to be absent from their posts. That such a large number of civil servants—127 in total—were found to be absent from their respective posts in a single day should be a matter of grave concern to the concerned authorities. Herein, to the Siraha district administrative office as it is, among others, charged with ensuring the smooth functioning of government offices located in the district. This can only be possible unless all the civil servants working in the various government offices are present in their respective posts during office hours. But as and when any civil servants are absent from their posts during working hours without any prior permission or notice, what is sure and certain is that government businesses will be stalled. The more so since the daily transactions of official businesses, in keeping with the existing procedures, have to pass through a number of tiers, each of which is manned by the designated non-gazetted employees and gazetted officers. As such, any break in this vital chain due to the absence of anyone of the designated civil servants manning one or the other tier will obviously hold up the government’s works.

It is for this very reason that in government offices it is mandatory for all civil servants to notify their immediate superiors prior to taking leave from their respective posts. But any failure on the part of the civil servants to inform their superiors before taking leave from their posts is deemed as wilful negligence on their part. For, civil servants, before they are formally induced in their respective offices, have to take an oath to strictly abide by the Civil Service Code which, among others, stipulates that civil servants must take prior permissions or leaves before being absent from their respective posts. As such, the 127 civil servants who were found to be absent from their respective posts during a surprise check in Siraha district are liable to official actions. While it is heartening to know that strict actions are to be initiated against these truant civil servants, it goes without saying that such surprise checks must be carried out in all government offices throughout the country.