The Metropolitan Traffic Police Division has resumed the mobilisation of “smart surveillance vans” to catch traffic rule violators and monitor the traffic flow in Kathmandu.

SP Shyam Krishna Adhikari, spokesperson for the division, said the vans equipped with CCTV cameras have been deployed in various parts of the city to help field traffic officers monitor the traffic and rule violators.

“These vans were kept in a garage. So we thought why not put them into use to address the problem of traffic jams and nab traffic rules violators,” said Adhikari.

The disused vans were repaired and outfitted with necessary monitoring equipment as the problem of traffic jam in Kathmandu has become severe ever since the odd-even vehicle rule was lifted from December 18 last year.

According to the division, nearly 1.2 million vehicles have been operating daily in Kathmandu Valley after the odd-even vehicle rule was lifted.

The surveillance vans have been deployed in different road sections of the Valley.

Adhikari said each van will have two traffic officers to monitor the activities on the road.

“We can take immediate action against lane rule violations and over speeding vehicles with the help of these vans,” said Adhikari.

For now, the vans are being deployed at Tripureshwor, Thapathali, Ratnapark, Maitighar, New Baneshwor, Singhadurbar and Jamal areas.

While officials say the surveillance vans will help catch traffic rule violators and manage the city’s traffic, many motorists and commuters consider these vans as a mere gimmick.

“I had seen these vans two years ago and now they are back on the road. These vans may help enforce traffic rules but there are only a couple of them, how are they going to cover the entire city,” said Rajesh Thapa, a tempo driver in Lagankhel Ratnapark route.

“The number of such vehicles should be increased to become effective. If there are more surveillance vans on the streets, motorists will be more careful not to violate the traffic rules.”

The surveillance vans were provided by Kathmandu Sustainable Urban Transport Project in 2017 to mark the fifth anniversary of Metro Traffic FM 95.6 Mhz.

SSP Janak Bhattrai, chief of the division, said the vans were an effective way of controlling traffic jams and catching traffic rules violators in Kathmandu.

“Because this is an immediate means to give tickets to traffic rules violators. We are looking forward to adding more vehicles in the future,” said Bhattrai.