With a drastic increase in the number of vehicles plying the roads, the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division has started taking action against the vehicles found carrying passengers in breach of traffic rules. 

Traffic police had become lenient while enforcing the traffic rules as fewer vehicles were plying the roads due to acute shortage of fuel following border blockade. 

MTPD SP Posh Raj Pokharel said that traffic police have started monitoring the adherence to traffic rules following a discussion on Sunday. As a result, the traffic police have started charging Rs 200 as fine to motorcyclists carrying three people. 

“A total of 148 vehicles have been charged at the rate of Rs 200 each for violating traffic rules on Monday. We have prohibited public vehicles from adjusting passengers on the roof of vehicles,” said SP Pokharel.

As some signs of easiness are seen at border points, the imports of fuel have increased resulting to operation of high number of public transportation services, while the thriving black market has been providing fuel to motorbikes and some private vehicles.

Traffic statistics show that currently 75 percent of private and 60 percent of public vehicles are operating on the streets.