KATHMANDU: The government is preparing to introduce five new laws related to road transport and vehicle regulation during the current fiscal year, as part of a broader legislative agenda aimed at modernizing Nepal’s transport sector.
According to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, four existing laws will be amended while one entirely new law will be introduced. The ministry has included 16 bills in the government’s legislative agenda for the fiscal year, with five directly related to roads and transport.
The proposed legislation covers the Motor Vehicles and Transport Act, Road Safety Act, Public Roads Act, Water Transport Operation and Management Act, and amendments to the Urban Public Transport (Management) Act.
The government has placed two of the bills under its first priority, targeting completion by November, while the remaining three are scheduled for completion by February/March.
The ministry aims to finalize the new Motor Vehicles and Transport Bill and the Road Safety Bill by Kartik. Drafts of both bills are being reviewed by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Law before being submitted to the Cabinet. Once approved, they will be registered in the Federal Parliament.
The proposed Motor Vehicles and Transport Bill will replace the existing law enacted in 1993 (2049 BS), which has already undergone 11 amendments. The ministry said a new law is necessary to incorporate provisions that could not be addressed through previous amendments and to align the legal framework with Nepal’s federal governance system.
The draft bill includes several major reforms, including higher traffic fines for violations, lower penalties for delayed driving license renewal, fines for pedestrians who violate traffic rules, revisions to the minimum age requirement for obtaining a driving license, classification of different license categories, and legal provisions allowing internal combustion engine vehicles to be converted into electric vehicles.
The government is also preparing Nepal’s first dedicated Road Safety Act. The proposed legislation aims to strengthen coordination among government agencies, improve road safety management, reduce road accidents, and establish an effective system for monitoring and evaluation.
Key provisions of the draft Road Safety Bill include institutional arrangements for road safety, provincial and local road safety coordination committees, integrated transport and land-use planning, safer road infrastructure, vehicle safety standards, traffic speed management, road user regulation and awareness programs, emergency rescue and treatment for accident victims, and insurance and compensation mechanisms.
In addition, the ministry plans to finalize amendments to the Public Roads Act, legislation governing water transport operation and management, and the Urban Public Transport (Management) Authority Act, 2022 by March. Drafting work on these bills is currently underway, according to ministry officials.
