The government has recently completed the construction of the 158 km road under the financial assistance of the Japanese government. The project had begun some 13 years ago.
Following completion of the project, vehicular traffic has almost doubled, according to DSP Shyam Kumar Mahato of District Police Office (DPO), Sindhuli.
Although vehicular traffic is heavy throughout the highway, the road section from Khurkot-Nepalthok to the capital faces the highest pressure, according to the police.
“Over 700 vehicles ply the highway every day” said DSP Mahato. According to him, around 350 vehicles used to ply the highway before its completion every day, but the number has almost doubled now.
The pressure of vehicles on the highway has increased significantly after construction of the Sunkoshi Bridge that links Ramechhap and Sindhuli district, according to local authorities.
Meanwhile, local stakeholders recently held a meeting and decided to put a ban on heavy and other over-loaded vehicles. Following the decision, security personnel have been deployed to check the route permit of vehicles plying the road. Vehicles plying the road without permit were returned, DSP Mahato informed.
Also banning heavy and overloaded vehicles on the highway has reduced the risk of accidents, according to DPO, Sindhuli.
As BP highway is the shortest route to various districts of the Tarai, pressure of vehicles on the route has increased significantly. However, heavy traffic movement has also increased the risk of accidents.
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