Interviews

HOW DIFFICULT IS IT FOR MANAGING TRAFFIC IN KATHMANDU CITY?
It is challenging, number of vehicle is high and infrastructure is not good. We have to manage it. It is difficult. People
want to reach their destination on time. They don’t want to be stopped between traffic. If you are inside the system, you must follow it. At foreign countries, people follow queues and wait in the intersection for traffic light at least 10-15 minutes. In our system we must queue up systematically.
Here people should follow traffic rules and regulations but some citizens shirk this. If you are a license holder you must be disciplined and be aware of what is right and wrong. Moral education is very important. Pollution must be controlled for environment friendly city. The traffic issues must be addressed jointly by the Police department and the citizens of our country.

WHAT IS THE REASON BEHIND CONGESTION OF TRAFFIC?
Increase in population is the crux. There should be scientific study of number of vehicles for number of population in a ratio, what is the floating population should be mapped, what vehicles can bring improvement in the city traffic and using public transportation instead of motor bikes in academic institutes, making the route points for private vehicles. The condition of valley for the vehicles is not well-developed and supply of vehicles are more in the country and our roadway is inadequate for growing number of transportation and population are the main problems.

IN YOUR OPINION WHAT ARE THE GENERAL PROBLEM AREAS YOU FIND IN TRAFFIC?
Human errors are making things difficult. So we need to abide by the system. Traffic signs, signals, road furnishing, road markings for prohibition of overtake, lane discipline, markings are some of the basic things which we don’t have. We need to review and make reforms in these areas. Slow moving vehicles should run in the left lane for another vehicle to overtake. It is seen when there is a space the vehicles speed past without consideration of traffic rules.
The riders must be fully conscious of how they are using the roads and adopting traffic rules. Bypass should be free, no one should haul goods on the pavement and two wheelers must be prohibited strictly. These things must be adopted for careful driving. Orientation, counseling must be done regarding traffic regulation.

THE MECHANISM FOR SOLVING TRAFFIC PROBLEMS IS NOT POSSIBLE ONLY FROM THE AUTHORITIES, WHEN ANY ACCUSATIONS ARE MADE IT GOES TO THE TRAFFIC POLICE. WHO DO YOU THINK ARE THE RESPONSIBLE BODIES FOR SOLVING THIS PROBLEM AND WHAT IS THE MESSAGE FOR PEOPLE MAKING ACCUSATIONS?
Whatever shortcomings are there in traffic it is my responsibility to look after them and improvise. Minimum requirement is citizens must bear the responsibility from their side. There must be an infrastructure and we must work on facilitating those infrastructure and make regulations for prevention against accidents. Pedestrians must use zebra cross but they are not following traffic rules, so there is a congestion of people and vehicles even that has to be regulated by traffic police. We have more involvement in improving traffic performance without availability of resources.

FESTIVAL SEASON IS NEAR HOW HAVE THE TRAFFIC POLICE TAKEN SAFETY MEASURES DURING THE FESTIVAL SEASON?
Ensuring that no black market operate inside the valley. There should be adequate number of vehicles and prioritizing passenger’s safety and conveyance. When events are organized on road there is a roadblock as a result traffic police is seen negligent. If such events are to be organized we must designate a certain place rather than the road. The traffic flow is ruptured just by few minutes of road blockage so we must think about this.

WHAT ARE THE PRECAUTIONS TAKEN FOR PEOPLE TRAVELLING THROUGH HIGHWAYS WHILE RETURNING TO THEIR FAMILY DURING THE FESTIVAL?
We take all the parameters for security and safety. Our cell monitors about the outflow of people along with goods carried. From our side we check if someone is drinking while driving. If someone is caught drunk while driving strict action will be taken by the authorities. Public vehicles honking their way impatiently will be monitored. All the rules that have been laid out will be reinforced by the traffic police. If we understand our own part of duty it will be more than enough.

MESSAGE FOR YOUTHS:
Showing heroism by racing beyond the speed limits must be avoided at all cost. One should adopt safety on the road
and traffic police are there for safety. A few minute pleasures could be a life changing calamity. We must think about this. Our life and others are equally important so the traffic police ensure protection and safety of the public and minimize road disasters in optimum level.