Kathmandu, June 16: Members of the Infrastructure Development Committee under the House of Representatives here today held discussions focused on road safety, transport management, traffic accident reduction and infrastructure improvement among others.
The lawmakers and experts emphasized effective implementation of policies to curb the rising number of road accidents in the country.
During the discussion, Committee Chairperson Ashish Gajurel pledged that the committee would facilitate the implementation of recommendations furnished by lawmakers and experts.
Arguing that road safety is a highly sensitive issue, he stressed that the government should take it seriously.
He expressed his dismay that although a bill related to road safety was drafted five years ago, it was yet to be tabled in Parliament.
Gajurel also pointed out that delays in road infrastructure development had further aggravated existing challenges.
The Committee Chairperson raised the issue of removal of a relevant ministry (Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport changed into Ministry of Infrastructure Development) despite the existence of an integrated transport policy.
He opined that road safety should be highly prioritized by the government to protect future generations. He, however, lamented, “We still do not have well-managed footpaths and disability-friendly roads.”
Also, putting for his views, lawmaker Sunil KC highlighted the role of parliament in addressing traffic accidents issues.
He drew the government’s attention, through the committee, to risks caused by unplanned road excavation, delays in maintenance work and weak coordination among concerned agencies.
Likewise, Basana Thapa highlighted difficulties in obtaining road permits in the Karnali region. She viewed that the government should accord top priority to ensuring road safety.
Other parliamentarians such as Bharat Kumar Swar, Purna Prasad Limbu, Dhanendra Karki and Raju Pandey argued that it was imperative to prioritize road safety for the country’s economic development and prosperity.
Also speaking in the discussion, Saroj Sitaula, President of the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs, called for considering a host of factors such as dedicated lanes for public transport, improved parking management and skilled drivers for road safety.
He also urged the government to address the gap between growing vehicle pressure and inadequate infrastructure development in the country.
Similarly, Arun Kumar Shrestha, President of Federation of Transporter Nepal, demanded that the monitoring and security systems for cargo vehicles should be further strengthened.
During the meeting, the Committee collected suggestions from experts and stakeholders on road safety transport management, road accident prevention and infrastructure development, among others. #nepal #rss
