KATHMANDU: Vehicle imports in Nepal are growing rapidly, but road and transport infrastructure is failing to keep pace, said Dhurba Bahadur Thapa, former NADA president and chairman of Himalaya Organization.
Speaking at the NAIMA Mobility Dialogue on Wednesday, Thapa said the growing number of vehicles itself is not the main problem. The biggest challenge is the lack of adequate roads, parking facilities and traffic management infrastructure.
“We are bringing vehicles in at a rabbit’s pace, while the government is moving at a tortoise’s pace in infrastructure management,” Thapa said.
He stressed that safe mobility requires quality road infrastructure and effective traffic management alongside vehicles. He also called for stronger enforcement of traffic rules and an effective fine system to improve driver discipline.
Thapa said businesses and other stakeholders should be consulted when developing transport-related policies and laws. Policies made without sufficient consultation can create practical difficulties during implementation, he said.
He also highlighted Kathmandu’s growing parking problem and called for planned parking infrastructure to accommodate the increasing number of vehicles.
Thapa said Nepal should not become a dumping ground for vehicles, particularly as EV imports continue to rise. He urged the government to develop adequate infrastructure, clear standards and supportive policies alongside the growing adoption of electric vehicles.
He warned that the growing gap between vehicle imports and infrastructure development could make traffic congestion, parking and road safety problems more serious in the coming years.
