Scrap outdated vehicles

Vehicles 20 years and older plying on the roads of Nepal must be taken off the roads immediately. There are 5,100 outdated vehicles across the country. There are plenty of reasons why this step must be taken sooner rather than later. Among other things, this will help reduce pollution and improve the traffic system as breakages – which such vehicles are prone to – will minimize in the middle of our congested roads often obstructing the smooth flow of traffic. Additionally, such vehicles are quite unsafe for people who travel in them as they are prone to a host of technical problems, minor as well as major.



Since a start has to be made somewhere, initially – as mentioned above – vehicles 20 years and older can be removed from the roads. But, going forward, it will serve us well if we improvise our system of determining ‘outdated’ vehicles. It is not necessary that a vehicle that has been on the roads for a certain span, in this case 20 years, is not in running condition. Similarly, a vehicle that is much younger, say five years, might not be in shape to ply on our roads. What we need are fitness centers that would scientifically determine the condition of the vehicles. Until date, we have none. The government is in the process of building one such center in Teku, Kathmandu, but as we move ahead, we will need more across the country.



The government would also do well to encourage owners of ‘small’ outdated public vehicles to opt for ‘bigger’ replacements. Bigger public vehicles can carry many more passengers, thus fewer of them would suffice implying there would be far less traffic congestion. Also, while choosing replacements, the owners can be encouraged to go for environment-friendly vehicles. Last but not the least, the government should not succumb to the pressure of vehicle owners and send such vehicles from one part of the country to another as it did in 1999 when it removed diesel-run Vikram tempos from the valley and placed them in other parts of the country. Such short-sighted measures will ultimately boomerang on the government.

Related story

Scrap vendors stage protest against KMC for the second day in a...