The Department of Transport Management has decided to allow registration of new public vehicles that were already brought into Nepal before its earlier directive halting such registrations.

The department has written to ministries under all seven provinces and local levels, instructing them to proceed with registration for eligible vehicles.

In a letter issued by Director Maniram Bhusal, importers who had already opened letters of credit (LCs) by May 23 and had initiated the process of bringing in public transport vehicles have been asked to submit the required documents to move forward with registration.

The department clarified that only vehicles for which LCs were opened within the specified deadline and had already entered Nepal will be eligible for registration. The decision does not apply to any imports beyond that date.

“Not all public vehicle registrations have been opened. This applies only to vehicles imported and processed before the decision to halt registrations,” Bhusal said. “There is no decision regarding vehicles imported after May 23. This applies only to those that were already in process.”

The department had previously issued a circular on May 22, instructing provincial ministries and local bodies to halt registering new public vehicles. Following that directive, registration had been suspended in most provinces.

However, the Bagmati Province Ministry of Labour, Employment and Transport continued registering new public transport vehicles through its transport management offices, while other provinces complied with the federal directive.

The earlier circular cited the need to control air pollution, rising fuel costs and growing traffic congestion. It said public transport management had become ‘unscientific’, leading to increased emissions, higher vehicle pressure and mobility challenges.

“To ensure proper management of public transport, it has become necessary to suspend registrations under Section 14 of the Transport Management Act 1993 until further notice,” the circular stated. It also directed offices and local governments under the ministry to halt registrations of all public vehicles, including electric vehicles.

The department said it is preparing to reopen registrations only after introducing a proper regulatory framework and standards for public transport management.