Dashain fair to close ground for driving test

KATHMANDU, Sept 25: With no alternative trial spots for four-wheelers in sight, trials from September 26 are likely to come to a standstill until October 12. Postponement of four wheel trail dates until then could affect around 3,000 people seeking driving licenses and drop revenue by around 1.6 million rupees.



The hiatus comes as a result of National Trading Corporation´s annual Dashain fair. The fair runs throughout Dashain and Tihar. Transport Management Office (TMO) has been using the ground of the Corporation to conduct trials for those seeking driving licenses for both heavy and light four wheelers. [break]



"National trading has sent us a letter asking us to stop trials that commence from September 29. However, the trails are likely to be hampered from September 26," Kashi Raj Dhakal, Chief of Driving License at TMO, Ekantakuna said.



The trails are stopping three days prior to the day the fair commences because in the current system, a license seeker appears for trail two days after registration. This means that those who register on September 26 will have their written exams on 27, and a trial on 28.



"Since a lot of people will be affected, Trolley Bus Office at Minbhawan, Kalanki Bus Park at Dhungaadda, and Nepali Congress Party Office at Sanepa might be used as alternatives," Abhay Shah, Traffic Unit Chief at TMO said.



However, the alternative arrangement has not been decided so far.



With the change of ground, the new spots are likely to create the problem of transparency since they do not have the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras. Officials do not rule out the possibility of irregularities even if an alternate spot would be found for trials.



"We will talk with the officials at the Center in this regard. If we fail to do so, we´ll have to stop the trials," Anil Gurung, Director General at the DoTM, said.



Gurung, however, said they will make a last-ditch effort to conduct trials for light vehicles at the grounds of Sajha Yatayat, Pulchowk.



On a daily basis, around 300 licenses are issued by the License Department at TMO. Of them, around 100 are for heavy vehicles. However, Gurung said that the number of licenses seekers for light vehicles are on decline with daily average of 60.



The festive season round the year, especially during Dashain, comes as a bane for license seekers, Gurung added.

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