The Election Commission Nepal has decided to suspend the operation of all public and private vehicles from midnight on March 4 until voting concludes on March 5.

Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, spokesperson for the Commission, said that the decision to bar the vehicles was taken by the high-Level election security committee formed under Section 3 of the Election Security (Management) Directive, 2021, to ensure effective security arrangements for the House of Representatives elections scheduled for March 5.

He informed that the restriction would remain in place from 12:00 am on March 4 until the completion of polling on the evening of March 5.

"However, vehicles providing essential services will be allowed to operate on polling day. These include ambulances, fire engines, hearses, blood transfusion service vehicles, security forces’ vehicles, and those used for electricity maintenance, drinking water and sewerage repairs, and telecommunications services," the EC spokesperson added.

Vehicles belonging to diplomatic missions and those with special passes issued for election purposes will also be permitted to operate. Domestic and international flights will continue as normal.

Bhattarai said that the Commission has also decided to write to the home ministry to enforce a nationwide ban on the sale, distribution and consumption of alcohol from seven days prior to polling until the final election results are announced. The meeting resolved to implement the alcohol prohibition in all 77 districts as part of the election security measures.