Over the past decade, more than 24,000 people have lost their lives due to road accidents in Nepal, severely impacting the social and economic sectors. In the Kathmandu Valley, the lack of clear policies to regulate public transportation has led to chaos on the roads, with varying capacities of vehicles contributing to congestion and disorder. Experts recommend addressing Kathmandu’s transportation challenges by defining routes according to road capacity and gradually phasing out smaller vehicles.
Road accidents are a major cause of loss of lives and property in Nepal, a country ranked among the highest globally for traffic accidents. Over the last ten years, more than 24,000 fatalities have occurred, including 2,661 pedestrian deaths in the past five years alone. According to the World Health Organization, injuries from road traffic accidents are a leading cause of death among children and young people aged 5 to 29 years worldwide.
Globally, 92 percent of all deaths from road accidents happen in low- and middle-income countries. In Nepal, where seven people die daily from traffic crashes, the consequences extend beyond human loss to social, economic, and health impacts. While many blame drivers entirely for accidents, the reality is that roads, vehicles, and all users — drivers, passengers, and pedestrians — share responsibility. It is the state’s duty to ensure these parties are aware, vigilant, and, if necessary, subject to enforcement.
Kathmandu, 17 Ashadh — On the occasion of Constitution Day, a rapid bus service was launched in Kathmandu on 3 Ashoj 2080. The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport invested nearly NPR 30 million to operate this service from Ratnapark in Kathmandu to Suryabinayak in Bhaktapur. However, the service failed to run smoothly for even a month. Despite the ministry’s efforts to maintain these buses, they could not deliver a rapid transit experience. According to Saroj Sitoila, President of the National Federation of Transport Entrepreneurs, there are more private vehicles than public ones on Kathmandu’s roads. The government has long pursued policies promoting private vehicle ownership.
Although the government has made significant investments in road transport infrastructure nationwide, including the Kathmandu Valley, these have not focused sufficiently on organizing mass transportation systems. Currently, public buses with a capacity of 50 to 55 seats operate within the valley, while smaller vehicles serve outside it. Introducing larger-capacity buses requires appropriate road infrastructure preparation.
Former Secretary Keshav Kumar Sharma, a regular public transport user, remarked, “I was fortunate to get a seat, but passengers were packed so tightly they were pressed against each other.” He identifies Kathmandu Valley and remote areas as the two main regions facing public transport challenges. Allowing all types of vehicles on the same roads in Kathmandu is a primary problem.
Business owners, employees, and passengers are all dissatisfied. Nepal, with a population of 30 million, serves approximately 1.2 million tourists annually. Consequently, there is a notable shortage of vehicles to meet passenger demand on the roads. According to the Economic Survey 2082/83, 6,249,742 vehicles are registered in Nepal so far, with roughly 80 percent being motorcycles.
Experts believe that private sector investment will be enthusiastic only after the government improves infrastructure and environment. They assert that public transportation must remain under state control, and improvements are possible through public-private partnerships in shared transit operations.
