If you violate the law, you will be fined up to 50,000, 'ride sharing' services from private vehicles will be banned, stranded vehicles will be managed.
It is going to be arranged that at least eight classes should be passed for driver's license. This provision is intended to be made in the bill made to make arrangements regarding vehicles and transportation. Currently, although it is said to know how to read general text for the license, the educational qualification is not specified. If the bill is passed as it is, it will be necessary to pass the eighth grade for the license.
Why was the educational qualification specified? Director General of Transport Management Department Rajeev Pokharel says, 'At least drivers should know about traffic lights and signals. That is why the educational qualification has been prescribed in the advice of everyone. In the 'Riding and Transport Arrangements Act 2049', the license period is five years. It has been proposed through the Bill to make it 10 years in the 'Transport Arrangements Act 2081'.
'Nowadays, almost everyone has a smart license, the life of that card is 15 years, if the period is short, the license will have to be printed a lot and the state will also incur more expenses. That's why we have extended the renewal period," Pokharel said. Some of the points in the current law have been repeated in the upcoming law. According to the current law, the person sitting behind the two-wheeler must wear a helmet. But not in implementation. When the traffic police tried to implement it, it was opposed. This provision has been kept in the proposed bill. "In the first two-wheelers, helmets were made compulsory for the drivers and the passengers sitting behind. Many complaints from the citizens that it was a nuisance were stopped. Lately, two-wheelers accidents are on the rise. Since the passengers sit in the back in ride-sharing, this provision has also been made in the new law to take into account their safety." At present, there is a provision to get a license to drive a large vehicle after completing 21 years of age. According to the current Transport Act, a two-wheeler driver's license can be obtained after completing 16 years of age. But in the law to be made now, 18 years should be completed.
Based on the level of the road, the type of vehicles that can run, and the traffic volume, the Department of Transport Management will determine the route for the transport services to be operated on the national highway and inter-provincial highway. It is mentioned in the proposed act that the state government and local level will determine the route for the transport operating within the state and local level in accordance with the laws of the state and local level based on the level of the road, the type of vehicles that can run on the road and the number of passengers.
Every public vehicle will have to undergo a pollution test once a year for five years from the date of registration and then once every 5 months. It is mentioned in the proposed bill that the department will determine the fares of public vehicles operating on national and inter-provincial highways based on the specified criteria.
In the proposed bill, a provision has been made for the drivers of passenger public vehicles to rest for half an hour once every four hours at designated rest centers or places. Arrangements should also be made for passenger public vehicles operating on long routes (routes) to change drivers every eight hours.
Provisions have been made in the proposed bill that the traffic inspector can immediately fine passengers, drivers and conductors from Rs 100 to Rs 50,000 if they violate the prescribed laws. It is mentioned in the bill that drivers and operators can be fined from Rs.
A fine of 10,000 rupees will be charged for driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If the same mistake is made for the second time, 50% will be charged and if it is violated more than that, 100% will be charged. In the current law, there was a provision that the first offender could be fined Rs 500, the second offender could be fined Rs 1,000 and the third offender could be fined Rs 1,500. Currently, the said fine can be imposed by a police officer of the rank of traffic inspector or assistant police inspector.
In the proposed bill, the physical and manufacturing process standards of vehicles are also specified. According to the proposed bill, the government can publish a notice in the gazette and determine the standards related to physical and manufacturing processes related to the form, engine, chassis and body of vehicles produced, assembled (assembled), exported and imported in Nepal. There was no such provision in the Act of 2049.
The proposed bill mentions information technology-based networked transportation services (ride sharing). According to the proposed bill, for the operation of networked transport services based on information technology, the department will be able to determine the basic criteria for the operation of transport services. It is mentioned that while determining the basis and criteria, the department should also consider the nature of the vehicle, the maximum fare that can be charged, the area where the transport can be operated, the insurance and service facilities of the driver and passengers, the distance and the maximum number of passengers that can be carried.
Wagmati and Gandaki have already included the provisions related to ride sharing in the Provincial Vehicle and Transport Management Act. But Union Transport Act 2049 has become an obstacle. It is mentioned in Union Vehicle and Transport Act 2049 that private vehicles cannot be used for transport services. In the same act, it is mentioned that a vehicle registered for one purpose cannot be used for another purpose.
Shankarsinh Dhami, senior divisional engineer of the Transport Management Branch of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, said that the new law is necessary because the country has gone to federalism but is still running according to the old laws. "By giving the authority of the province to the province, we have prepared a bill so that it becomes a law only for the union," he said, "All vehicles have been classified. Fines and punishments have been increased. The proposed bill also mentions that stranded vehicles will be managed.
