Commuters bear the brunt of odd-even vehicle rule

Published On: November 30, 2018 06:52 AM NPT By: SHUVAM DHUNGANA

KATHMANDU, Nov 30: Khum Prasad Shrestha, 65, of Aarghakhachi reached Bir Hospital Thursday morning for a regular health check up.

He waited for almost an hour at the bus stop opposite the hospital for a public vehicle to go back to
his relative’s place in Sukedhara after the check-up, but there were no buses.

“I was not aware of the VIPs’ movement. Otherwise, I would have deferred my plan. But I am facing a tough time now to go back to my daughter’s home. There is no public vehicle,” he said.

The Metropolitan Traffic Police Division (MTPD) has enforced the odd-even rule for vehicles in the Valley beginning Thursday so as to avoid traffic congestion and ease the movement of the visiting high-level dignitaries who are in Kathmandu to participate in the Asia Pacific Summit.

Tara Dangal, 29, of Gothatar, faced the same problem; she had tough time finding a bus to go back home after office.

“Today, I had a morning shift at office. I have been waiting here for almost two hours now for a bus to go back home,”

Dangal shared her frustration. She complained that the police didn’t allow people to even use the pedestrian bridges to cross the road for hours.

A large number of people could be seen walking on the roads in the city to reach their destinations as public vehicles with even number plates were not allowed to operate on Thursday even in the inner city areas. The odd-even rule will be in place for the next three days.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Burmese State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi were among the VVIPs arriving in Kathmandu on Thursday to take part in the summit. The organizers of the summit said around 1,500 guests from 45 countries including heads of state from a number of countries are arriving in Kathmandu.

MTPD chief SSP Basanta Pant said they are trying their best to minimize the inconvenience of the general public.

“We are stopping the public vehicles only during the VVIP movements. Traffic Police has not imposed any restriction on ambulances and other essential vehicles,” he said.

“We are informed about a VVIP movement just an hour in advance.
Within that time, we manage public and private vehicles on the roads according to the instructions from the higher authorities,” said SSP Panta.