The data shows that Rs 340.98 million from 4,19,897 offenders was collected in 2010/11, which is nearly 50 percent higher than Rs 160.83 million collected from 2,54,688 offenders in the fiscal year 2009/10. [break]
Similarly, 28 police units in the valley including MTPD punished 78,824 offenders and accumulated Rs 8.76 million in the fiscal year 2008/09 while it collected Rs 4.15 million from 46,148 offenders in the fiscal year 2007/08.
We have been able to collect a huge amount of revenue in 2010/11 as we didn´t spare anyone violating traffic rules, said Ganesh Raj Rai, DIG of Nepal Police and Chief of MTPD. Increasing amount of revenue collection suggests that traffic rules´ violation has been on the rise for some years.
He said MTPD collected a large amount of revenue from 419,897 offenders in the valley, adding, “Most cases of violation of traffic rules is related to changing the lane for overtaking.” MTPD can fine up to Rs 200 for any kind of traffic violation.
Rai said that the fine amount from Rs 25 to Rs 200 is so low that it fails to discipline the offenders. “If we fine people up to Rs 5,000, the traffic violation will drop significantly.”
He said the mobile van run by the Department of Transport Management to punish traffic offenders beyond Rs 200 is an impractical idea.
Driving after consuming alcohol and without license, carrying too many passengers in public vehicles, over-speeding are some of the major traffic violation that add up to traffic woes.
Among 28 traffic units in the valley, units at Koteshowor, Thapathali, Kalanki and Darbarmarg comparatively receive more traffic violation cases.
Rai who has been urging for a 25 percent share of the total revenue collected for MTPD, said, “If the government agrees to give one-fourth of the revenue to MTPD, we can invest that money to develop traffic infrastructures that will help curb traffic violations.”
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