The Metropolitan Traffic Police Division (MTPD) is setting up 115 checking points and 15 special morning units to check on drink-driving incidents in the lead up to the Gregorian New Year’s Eve that falls on Saturday. 

Organising a press meet in the Capital on Wednesday, the division said the new measures have been adopted considering the trend of people driving their vehicles under the influence of alcohol. 

The division will be mobilising more than 2,000 traffic police personnel who will keep a close eye especially on drunk teenagers, security of women, probable theft or robbery on the eve. 

Declaring that no street festivals will be allowed this time around, the division has also asked all the major hotels in the Valley to close their doors after 2am.

“We don’t intend to impose restrictions, but people should consider negative effects of drink-driving,” said DIG Prakash Aryal of the MTPD, explaining about its consequences—hit-and-run cases, road accidents and drunken brawls. 

The drink-driving incidents in the Valley has decreased fivefold in the past five years. According to the MTPD record, the number of drink-driving cases in 2016 stood 184, down from 621 in 2011. However, there has not been significant decline in the number of road accidents. On an average 15 people lose their lives in road accident due to drink-driving in the Capital every year. “We are determined to reduce the number of fatal accidents caused by drink-driving to zero in a few months,” said Aryal.

The MTPD has also released a parking arrangement plan for the New Year Eve. Parking will be allowed at Lainchaur Football Ground; Nepal Scout; Mahendra statue to Narayanhiti Palace South Gate on Durbar Marg; South Gate to Jay Nepal Cinema and Narayanhiti Palace North Gate after 5pm on the eve. 

To report crimes and other untoward incidents, police has requested the people to call the emergency numbers 100 and 103, or send SMS text to 9851295100.