The Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office on Saturday decided to ban the entry of four-wheelers inside the New Road area in view of the upcoming Dashain festival.

According to the Valley Traffic Police Office, the ban has come into effect from Saturday itself and will continue until Fulpati, the seventh day of the 10-day long festival.

Several core areas inside Kathmandu valley, especially New Road area, witness massive footfall during the festive season with people thronging the area for shopping, throwing the traffic movement out of gear.

In a daily update on its website, the traffic police office said that all four-wheelers including private, public and cargo vehicles will be prohibited entry into the New Road area from New Road gate, Kamalakshi, Bhotahiti and Indra Chowk.

Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office spokesperson Senior Superintendent Rajendra Prasad Bhatta said that the vehicles will be barred entry inside the core New Road area after 10am until the traffic volume around the area decreases in the evening.

Bhatta further informed that parking space for vehicles during the ban period will be managed inside the Khula Manch. He, however, said that no one from the traffic police or the metropolis office will be present at the parking site to manage the vehicles.