Vehicular movement along the Naubise-Nagdhunga road section in the Tribhuvan Highway has eased after authorities banned the use of heavy goods carriers on the road stretch during Dashain festival.

Until Friday, the 15-km road section saw huge traffic jams for hours, mostly because of broken-down vehicles that occupied nearly half the road. Passengers on the road stretch were stuck for as long as 12 hours. On Friday, traffic jam along the road resulted in the death of a man who was travelling to Kathmandu for treatment.

Superintendent of Police Raj Kumar Baidawar said the District Police Office in Dhading has banned the operation of heavy vehicles on the road section from Sunday till October 5.

“There’s a huge pressure of vehicles on the road as large numbers of people have started travelling to their hometowns for Dashain,” Baidawar said. “We have mobilised police personnel in various parts of the highway to ease vehicular movement and to ensure the safety of passengers.”

The Nagdhunga-Naubise road serves as the main gateway to Kathmandu for vehicles coming from the eastern, western and southern parts of the country. According to the traffic police, more than 8,000 vehicles pass the road every day.

Because of the traffic jam, timely delivery of goods and services to and from the Kathmandu Valley and beyond were hindered.

“To avoid any possible congestion along the road section, the District Police Office has kept drivers and essential equipment (crane and dozer) on standby,” said Chief District Officer Aasman Tamang.

According to the Office, 12 to 18 wheeler-trucks are permitted to run on the road only after 9 pm to ease road congestion.

Ruk Bahadur Khadka, the inspector of the Area Police Office in Khani Khola, said security personnel have been deployed at various places along the road to implement traffic rules and regulations and ease vehicular movement.

“The road section has been declared ‘no overtake track zone’,” Khadka said.

The District Police Office has also mobilised a team in the Naubise-Nagdhunga road section to ensure the safety of passengers. Police have requested the public to immediately inform nearby police stations if they face any hardships along the road.