KATHMANDU: The government is set to overhaul its public road safety and infrastructure policies by introducing a new Public Road Safety and Transport Act.
The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has finalized the draft of the new legislation, which will replace the outdated Public Road Act of 1974.
Joint Secretary Krishna Raj Panth, who heads the Infrastructure Development and Transport Division at the ministry, said the new Act will modernize the existing legal framework to meet contemporary needs. “The current Public Road Act, 1974, has been governing road construction, maintenance and management so far. To align with present-day requirements, we have prepared a draft Bill. The draft has been floated for public discussion to collect feedback from concerned stakeholders,” Panth told MeroAuto. “We will finalize the draft by incorporating feedback from stakeholders and forward to the cabinet for approval.”
Building petrol pumps, charging stations, toll plazas, hotels, restrooms, refreshment centers, garages, or driving centers along the road without approval will also attract a fine of up to Rs 1 million.
The proposed law introduces several measures to enhance road safety and infrastructure management. Key provisions in the draft include:
Unauthorized Construction on Road Boundaries: The Bill prohibits unauthorized construction within designated road boundaries. Anyone authorized to dig a road must deposit a refundable security equivalent to the repair cost. If a road is dug without permission, the cost of repair will be recovered from the person or entity responsible. A fine of up to Rs 500,000 has been proposed for those building permanent structures within road boundaries.
Land Acquisition: The relevant road office may acquire land as per existing land acquisition laws for the construction, expansion, or improvement of public roads. Anyone obstructing the acquisition process or causing disturbances may be fined up to Rs 50,000. Currently, the fine for such actions is only Rs 2,000.
Upward Revision of Fines:
- A fine of up to Rs 100,000, up from the existing Rs 2,000, will be imposed for uprooting, cutting, or damaging trees planted within public road boundaries for environmental protection and beautification.
- Vehicle owners operating goods carriers beyond the government-specified weight limit will face an immediate fine of up to Rs 500,000 per offence.
- Operating oversized vehicles on roads where such vehicles are restricted, or using construction machinery and equipment with road-damaging wheels, will result in a fine of up to Rs 100,000.
- A fine of up to Rs 5,000 will be imposed if livestock is found released on public roads.
- Anyone obstructing the transport of sand, aggregates and other construction materials for road repair or construction, or hindering the removal of goods blocking the road, will face a fine of up to Rs 100,000.
- Anyone working on drainage systems, pipelines, electric poles, wires, or similar utilities without permission from the road office will be fined up to Rs 1 million.
- Building petrol pumps, charging stations, toll plazas, hotels, restrooms, refreshment centers, garages, or driving centers along the road without approval will also attract a fine of up to Rs 1 million.
- Obstructing or resisting the removal of illegally built structures may result in a fine of up to Rs 50,000 or imprisonment for up to 6 months.
- If an approved road excavation project fails to construct the access road as per the technical documents submitted at the time of approval, the concerned road office may impose a fine of up to Rs 1,000,000.
- Anyone carrying out any work without approval from the road office, or in violation of the terms and standards of the approval, will be fined up to Rs 500,000.
