Each traffic police officer in the Kathmandu Valley is responsible for managing an average of 1,787 vehicles, according to the latest report from the Auditor General. There are 2,084 kilometers of road across the three districts of the Valley, while the total number of vehicles registered in Bagmati Province in the fiscal year 2023/24 has reached 1,988,819.
The report highlights that only 1,113 personnel are currently deployed to manage traffic in the Valley. This means each officer must oversee both a high number of vehicles and an average of 1.87 kilometers of road.
According to Binod Ghimire, Chief of the Valley Traffic Division, the workload on traffic police is considerable given the current manpower. However, he noted that not all vehicles registered in Bagmati Province operate solely within the Valley.
The introduction of traffic lights, CCTV cameras, and other technologies has eased vehicle monitoring to some extent. The Traffic Division now uses 326 CCTV cameras installed across various locations in the Valley to monitor traffic violations, investigate accidents, and track vehicle theft.
Recently, Auditor General Toyam Raya submitted the 62nd annual report to President Ram Chandra Paudel. The report states that the average annual growth rate of road accidents in Nepal is 12.48 percent. It attributes the rise in accidents to poor road and vehicle conditions, traffic congestion, and delays in completing road construction projects.
Over the past five years, the number of people seriously injured in traffic accidents has increased by 7.35 percent annually, while minor injuries have risen by 6.16 percent. The report points to poor driver training, lack of awareness of traffic rules, and driver negligence as key causes of fatalities and injuries.
To address these issues, the Auditor General has recommended improvements in road infrastructure, pedestrian crossings, parking facilities, traffic signals, CCTV coverage, and road signage. It also calls for better inter-agency coordination and strict enforcement of the Vehicle and Traffic Acts.
The report further urges authorities to closely monitor vehicle condition, load limits, passenger capacity, and speed. It recommends implementing intelligent traffic light systems and ensuring strict compliance with traffic signs to improve traffic management not only in Kathmandu but also in other major cities.
Another area of concern raised in the report is the large number of abandoned vehicles at police offices. According to the Police Headquarters, as of fiscal year 2022/23, 6,982 vehicles—including two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and four-wheelers—remain abandoned, with no identified owners.
Although 5,518 vehicles were auctioned in the same year, including 5,478 two-wheelers, 2 three-wheelers, and 38 four-wheelers, 1,464 vehicles are still left unattended. As per the 2022 Procedure for Auctioning Government Property and Goods, such vehicles should be documented, publicly notified for 15 days, and auctioned if no ownership claim is made. The report emphasizes the need to update records and auction the remaining vehicles as required by law.
