The core city area of Kathmandu that has several heritage sites has been declared off-limits for four-wheelers.

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City, in association with the Metropolitan Traffic Police (MTPD) and the representatives of the area, jointly decided to ban four-wheelers from entering places like Bhotahiti, Ason, Indrachowk, Bhedasing, Jyatha, Teuda, Thaiti and Kamalachhi starting from Tuesday.

The decision came after a successful implementation of a similar regulation in Thamel in October last year.

With this announcement, heritage sites including 12 different points of the core area in Kathmandu have been declared no-go zone for four wheelers from 7am to 7pm. Ambulance, water tanker, fire engine and diary vehicle have been exempted from this regulation.

Local residents, who owns four-wheelers, will be issued special passes by the KMC. Outsiders visiting the area will have to park their cars either at Naradevi, Makhan Chowk, Bhotahiti or Khulla Manch.

The MTPD will place signals and signboards at 10 different places to notify motorists about the regulation in the initial days.

“We have started our move and have been getting good feedback from locals.  We still need to place traffic signs and conduct awareness programme,” said MTPD chief and Deputy Inspector General Sarbendra Khanal.

Local residents and business owners in the area have welcomed the move.

Without four-wheelers blocking the narrow alleyways and streets, they expect to see a rise in the number of tourists, which is a good thing for local economy. 

Min Kaji Shakya, chairman of Ward 25 said, the representatives of the area, including 7, 18, 19, 22, 24 and 27, are actively involved in making the drive a success.

 “This area holds great historic and archaeological values. Our plan of two decades ago to make the area vehicle-free is finally realised,” said Shakya.