Shift traffic management to smart systems, says committee chair Gajurel

Infrastructure Development Committee Chairperson Ashish Gajurel has said the practice of traffic police standing at intersections to direct vehicles should end, with traffic management shifted instead to a smart system.

He expressed this view at an interaction on road safety organised by the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office in the capital on Sunday.

According to Chairperson Gajurel, the main responsibility of traffic police should be taking action against rule-breakers and raising public awareness about road safety. He said work is currently under way to install new traffic lights at various locations in the valley and repair old, non-functioning ones.

He also said further investment would be made to make the traffic control room more technology-friendly. Citing examples from developed countries, he said that once smart traffic lights are fully implemented, pedestrians' reliance on footbridges would decrease.

However, he made clear that footbridge construction would continue where needed. He also pledged to work towards arranging resting places, drinking water and toilets for traffic police deployed on the roads.

At the same event, office chief, Senior Superintendent of Police Suresh Prasad Kafle, said no leniency would be given to traffic police involved in financial irregularities. Spokesperson Naresh Raj Subedi said the work of traffic police is not limited to managing vehicle movement but is also linked to protecting citizens' lives and maintaining road discipline.