The Kathmandu Metropolitan Traffic Police Division has announced a series of security surveillance activities to ensure hassle-free travel for the people leaving Kathmandu Valley for the Dashain festival,

The division chief SSP Bhim Prasad Dhakal on Wednesday held a meeting with the chiefs of all 42 traffic police units in the Valley and briefed them about their responsibilities.

“This year, we will try our best to support the passengers. We will monitor all bus ticket counters to make sure passengers are not fleeced,” said Dhakal. “We have deployed 32 officers in civvies to inspect the wrongdoing in ticket counters. Besides that, we will also deploy our officers to find if the bus is carrying passengers more than its capacity.”

The division, in coordination with the Department of Transport Management and transport operators, have established 14 help desks in different parts of the Valley to help passengers. The authorities have also made it mandatory for bus ticket sellers to wear uniforms and carry identity cards.

To enforce traffic safety, the division has deployed 430 additional traffic officers in different parts of Kathmandu Valley starting Wednesday.

According to Dhakal, traffic officers have been mobilised to 368 busy areas, including New Road, Bhotahiti, Durbarmarg, Kalimati, Naya Bus Park, Gaushala, Chabahil, Kamalpokhari, New Baneshwor, Thamel, Baudha, Jorpati, Lagankhel, Mangalbazar, and various parts of Bhaktapur.

On other days, the Valley’s traffic is managed by around 750 traffic officers.

From Wednesday, the division has intensified traffic checks in the areas like Kalanki, Swayambhu, Machapokhari, New Buspark, Gaushala, Koteshwor, Jagate, Satdobato, Balkhu, Dakshinkali, Sundhara and Purano Bus Park.

The division has already started sobriety checks to combat drink driving.

Besides, authorities have made it mandatory for all long route vehicles to have two drivers.

To raise traffic awareness, the division has distributed 1,000 pen drives containing various awareness audio jingles for drivers as well as passengers.

“We have distributed the pen drives mostly to the drivers of long route buses,” said Dhakal.

The Wednesday’s meeting was also attended by DIG Shailesh Thapa Kshetri, chief of the Metropolitan Police Office, and other senior police officials.

“We are concerned about people's safety. We will leave no stone unturned for the security and safety of passengers,” Kshetri said.