November 6: The government has issued the Valley Public Transport Authority Infrastructure Development Committee Order 2077 for proper management of public transportation in the Kathmandu Valley.

The government had decided to form the Valley Transport Authority two and a half years ago after uprooting the transport syndicate prevalent in the country. Back the, the government had envisaged making the public transportation sector more reliable and properly managed within five years. However, the move faced backlash and was criticized by a certain sector for the central government’s allegedly attempt to interfere in matters of the province in the new federal setup. The government has finally took a cabinet decision in this regard with the issuance of the order.

The committee will undertake the task of endorsing the annual plans, programmes and budget of the authority in addition to checking the standard of vehicles in the valley.

The government had established a fitness centre in  Teku  to check the standard of vehicles some 11 years ago. But the centre could not be operated for a long time. The equipment used for testing the vehicles broke down after which the centre had to abort its work. The centre will now be revived and required equipment will be fixed as the authority will be looking after the matter from now onward.

According to Information Officer at the Department of Transport Management Dr Loknath Bhusal, the committee will prepare all the required infrastructure as well as fix the rate, route permit among others before the bill gets endorsed by the House of Representatives.