The government has decided to ban vehicles more than 20 years old from plying in Kathmandu. 

Though a decision to this effect was taken two years ago, the Cabinet on Wednesday decided to enforce the decision from February 28. 

“We will now fully enforce the Cabinet decision,” said Chandra Man Shrestha, director general of the Department of Transport Management (DoTM), adding that the DoTM has already made an agreement with traffic police for strict enforcement of the decision. 

According to DoTM officials, an estimated 12,000 vehicles more than 20 years old are currently in Kathmandu Valley. 

“Actually, the Cabinet had given [us] two years to enforce the decision that’s why we are going to implement it now,” said Shrestha, adding that old vehicles outside the Valley will be removed from roads by March next year.

No decision has been made regarding what the owners of such old vehicles will get once they are taken off the roads. The owners of these vehicles have already matched the cost as they have been on the roads for the last two decades, said Shrestha.