DPM Shrestha calls for enhancing road safety

KATHMANDU: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha has said that all sides are expected to contribute equally for addressing the heart-wrenching situation caused by road accidents.

Inaugurating the ‘Road Safety and Traffic Awareness Week-2080 BS’, a joint initiation by the Valley Traffic Police Office and the Kathmandu Metropolitan City amidst a programme here today, the Deputy Prime Minister said road safety is not just the concern of traffic police. “It is equally the concern of drivers and others, as well.”

He urged everyone to take responsibility for ensuring safe travel and emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to alleviate the persistent issue of traffic congestion in the Kathmandu Valley.

DPM Shrestha was of the opinion of further systematising the traffic light system, stating that the government was thinking to come up with an additional scheme for the motivation of traffic police.

The Minister was concerned about the significant human casualties and physical damages resulting from road accidents over the past one decade. “The data about road casualties in the past 10 years is alarming.”

He reiterated that it is the collective responsibility of all stakeholders to address this situation.

He also stressed the need of enhancing road quality, ensuring that vehicles are well-maintained and conditioned, and increasing awareness among drivers and the public to promote road safety and minimize accident rates.