Increased Daily Accidents Prompt Monitoring of Chyamangsinh–Tathali–Nala Road

March 24, Bhaktapur — In response to a rise in daily accidents on the Chyamangsinh–Tathali–Nala road, considered an alternative route to the Arniko Highway, a security agency team conducted road inspections seeking ways to reduce the incidents.

With delays in expanding the six-lane SuryaBinayak–Banepa–Dhulikhel highway in Bhaktapur, traffic has increasingly diverted from Banepa Chowk through Nala-Tathali to Chyamangsinh road, resulting in a growing number of accidents that worry local residents. The road experiences heavy traffic congestion.

Due to repeated complaints of frequent accidents, a team led by Chief District Officer Umesh Kumar Dhakal, including Superintendent of Police of Bhaktapur District Police Office Surya Bahadur Khadka, Deputy Superintendent of Police Chanchala Shrestha of Jagati Police Post, Traffic Police Inspector Jharna Sunar of the District Traffic Police Office, and Ganesh Tyat, Ward Chairperson of Changunarayan Municipality-9, conducted evaluations at accident-prone locations.

Both security forces and local representatives concluded that the high volume of vehicles and the high speed of motorcycles and small vehicles are the primary causes of the escalating daily accident rate.

Sanjiiv Madhikarmi, operator of Dattatraya Food Industry, recounted witnessing three accidents in a single day before his eyes and expressed growing concern about the daily incidents.

After accidents increased, the installation of three CCTV cameras near the industry’s gate helped the police in tracking down vehicles responsible for hit-and-run cases, said Madhikarmi, who also suggested adopting measures for further accident reduction.

Ganesh Tyat, Ward Chair of Changunarayan Municipality-9, noted that although nine CCTV cameras were installed by the municipality a year ago, none are operational now due to wires being cut by large cargo vehicles. He emphasized the need not only for CCTV cameras but also for street lights on the road.

Deputy Superintendent Chanchala Shrestha of Jagati Police Post said that without CCTV cameras, drivers flee scenes after crashes, and offenders go unpunished. She expressed confidence that CCTV and awareness boards would aid accident prevention and investigations.

Local residents have reported rising accidents due to heavy traffic on narrow roads, driver indiscipline, and speeding. They demand enhanced traffic police presence and stricter enforcement in high-risk areas. Community members have also called on brick kilns and various industries in the area to install CCTV cameras and requested provision of street lighting at night.

District Traffic Police Chief Sonar stated that although requests for dummy traffic officers have been made, a lack of manpower hampers effective management. He added that establishing a police post in the area immediately, along with awareness posters, CCTV cameras, and street lighting, would significantly help reduce accidents.

During the inspection, Chief District Officer Dhakal committed to immediately deploying security personnel in high-accident zones to maintain traffic discipline, initiate legal actions, and facilitate installation of flex boards and CCTV cameras. He instructed Ward Chairperson Tyat to convene meetings with business owners and stakeholders to work towards resolving the issues.

Superintendent of Police Surya Bahadur Khadka noted increased traffic congestion on the Banepa–Jagati road results in crowded conditions and emphasized the need for discussions with the Road Division Office to address the problem.