Kathmandu. The Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office is preparing to make fire extinguishers mandatory along with route permits to make public vehicles carrying passengers more safe, systematic and passenger-friendly. The Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office is preparing to make regular monitoring of public vehicles effective and take strict measures directly related to the safety of passengers.

For this, regular inspection of the condition of public vehicles, necessary documents, route permit and safety equipment will be carried out in coordination with the concerned bodies.

According to the police, although there is a provision to take permission from the concerned route while operating public transport, there are complaints that some vehicles are operating without the necessary documents or outside the designated route. To control such activities, the provision of route permits is being tightened.

Chief of Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office and Senior Superintendent of Police Suresh Prasad Kafle said preparations were underway to make firefighting devices mandatory in public vehicles.

According to him, it is necessary to keep fire extinguishing equipment in the vehicle at the initial stage as fire can occur at any time due to electrical and technical problems and fuel leakage in the vehicle. He said, “This rule will be strictly implemented in all public vehicles.” ‘

According to him, arrangements are being made to keep fire extinguishers in usable condition in public vehicles.

Spokesperson of the Traffic Police, Naresh Raj Subedi, said that regular monitoring would be carried out in the condition of public vehicles, capacity of drivers, necessary documents, route permit, condition of fire extinguishers and their usability.

“During the inspection, vehicles that do not meet the standards including fire extinguishers will be brought under the purview of action,” he said, adding, “The safety of passengers is the first priority.” To ensure the safety of passengers, it is mandatory to meet the criteria including route permit. ‘

Spokesperson Subedi pointed out the need of effective implementation of safety standards to minimise road accidents and other risks as the number of passengers and vehicular movement in public transport increases during festivals and other times.

The traffic police have urged the public vehicle owners and businessmen to fully comply with the prevailing laws and safety standards. It has also urged the public not to be negligent in matters that have a direct impact on the safety of the passengers and to carry out regular inspection and maintenance of the vehicles.