Increasing Number of Vehicles and Its Negative Externalities in Nepal

Everyone in Kathmandu seems to be in a hurry no one less than other. Number of accidents takes place and the cause for the accidents is not only solely responsible to any single factor. Every commotion in Nepal no matter how small is, rendered to be gruesome. A small ride can take hours and let us not forget the anxiety people need to face day in and day out trying to get past such situations. In absence of a proper system to monitor and control traffic especially in the roads of the capital, many people lose their lives every year in severe accidents. Despite some efforts from the traffic police, the traffic congestion in the roads of Kathmandu does not seem to get better. The chaotic traffic scenarios that local people experience especially on the narrow lanes can be harrowing and many a times have seen people brawling in an attempt to get ahead of the others. Moreover, a sense of fear seems to be growing inside commuters due to a surge in reckless driving that goes unchecked. The harmful gases emitted by the outdated vehicles and the smoke and the noises that creates a health risk for those who breathe the air as well as the risk for pedestrian to walk in the road, it is a negative externality. The traffic management has indeed come up with many rules and regulation to improve the situation but there seems to be a huge gap between the formulation and implementation of these regulations causing the cost of vehicle for society to be larger than the cost to the vehicle manufacturers. But in the mean time, the number of vehicles in the valley has increased threefold. The emission from the vehicles has therefore probably increased significantly, while emission from other sources has decreased over the past 10 years. As a result, vehicle is now the number one source of pollution in Kathmandu. The main reason for the high level of vehicular emission is the large number of poorly maintained vehicles on congested streets, poor quality fuels and lubricants, weaknesses in the emission inspection & maintenance system and a poorly managed transportation system.

Vehicles have increased five times in the Kathmandu valley last few years finding it difficult to manage the vehicular traffic, given its lack of adequate manpower and other infrastructures. More than 800,000 vehicles were registered in Bagmati zone alone until the last fiscal year and this is over half of the total number of vehicles registered in the country. Year up to 2000 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 Total 14,507 1,453 1,163 962 1,853 1,622 2,257 2,508 2,629 2,564 2,810 34,328 54,963 5,152 4,374 3,487 7,557 4,781 5,150 5,892 6,329 8,144 14,243 120,072 21,309 1,271 1,798 1,212 1,477 1,592 2,263 3,278 3,594 3,643 4,524 45,961 21,072 3,519 3,189 2,485 2,191 1,374 635 2,942 3,297 4,663 11,460 56,827 6,702 232 248 17 16 48 60 12 18 20 9 7,382 150,185 29,291 38,522 29,404 26,547 31,093 45,410 72,568 69,666 83,334 168,707 744,727 3,715 77 86 43 58 21 1,536 205 202 31 5,974 272,453.00 40,995.00 49,380.00 37,610.00 39,699.00 40,531.00 55,775.00 88,736.00 85,738.00 102,570.00 201,784.00 1,015,271 Bus/ Car/ Tractor Truck Tempo Motorbike Others Total

Registered Vehicle
up to 2000 20% 2000/01 27% 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 5% 9% 4% 4% 4% 2004/05 4% 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10

10%

8% 5%

Year
2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10

Number of Vehicles 49,380.00 37,610.00 39,699.00 40,531.00 55,775.00 88,736.00 85,738.00 102,570.00 201,784.00

Accidents
3,823 3,864 5,430 5,532 3,894 4,546 6,821 8,353 11,747

250,000

200,000

150,000 Accidents 100,000 Number of Vehicles

50,000

Year
1996 2000 2005 2010

TSP
518 539 571 609

CO
19120 20898 23507 26561

HC
9602 10284 11247 12314

NOx
1986 1998 2044 2125

SO2
145 151 161 174

Pb
0 5 5 6

Vehicle Emission (Tons)

Yearly Vehicle Emission (Tons)

30000 25000 20000 15000 10000 5000 0 1996 TSP 2000 CO HC NOx 2005 SO2 Pb 2010

With the increasing number of vehicles, people have to spend their time in road congestion, which is a non productive activity resulting in a reduction in a overall economic health as well. It also make more wastage of the fuel which also increases the air pollution and other harmful gases and smokes creating a global warming and other environmental social costs. other

cost could be associated with social cost such as the environment and also the cost incurred to repair vehicles which spend more time idling in traffic congestion, acid rain may also lead damage of property leading to unnecessary loss to the economy, the total economic cost is too high and strategies should be set in place to avoid this costs which are avoidable.

The most important decision under any budget in Nepal is the tax of the vehicles, import and purchases, both two wheelers and four wheelers. This time the government has left the vehicle taxes untouched for this year. This is due to the fact that the previous years tax increment has led to the low purchase and sales of vehicles leading to the overall low tax collection. To open the track, to improve the opened tracks and to begin the black of various roads, more budget has been allocated. Budget has been allocated for the construction and renovations of various roads and highways. Around Rs 6.5 billions have been allocated for the roads. Budget have been allocated of Rs. 80 million for the construction of Seti Highway and Mahakali Highway. Additional budget for regional roads has also been provisioned. The current traffic problems will be eased by the lane extension in the entry points of the major cities including the Capital one and the upgrading of inner roads within the cities. Construction works of Fly-over in Kathmandu will be expedited. There will be flyovers and Metro Trains in Kathmandu. With a view to expanding the tourism business, tourism roads are being constructed from the current fiscal year. Necessary arrangements will be made to accomplish those in a timely manner. Additional budget is allocated for the tourism roads. The most amazing plan for this year budget is the establishment of Metro trains in Kathmandu valley. For the construction of road-bridges in highways and other roads connecting the district headquarters budget have allocated Rs. 2 billion.

Reduction of vehicle exhaust emission is the most effective measure to improve air quality of the valley. The electric vehicles can play an important role in reducing emission loads in Kathmandu. Operating the existing trolley bus system can save approximately three tons of potentially carcinogenic particles from being released into Kathmandus air every year. As diesel exhaust is very hazardous for human health and it is the main sourc e of fine particles, diesel vehicles should be avoided to the extent possible. Government should introduce economic tools, much as fuel tax, to discourage the use of diesel vehicles. Introduction of environment-friendly brick kilns can also significantly reduce the amount of pollutants in dry winter season. Public awareness campaigns are required to inform the people about the hazards of air pollution and what they can do to avoid or minimize air pollution.

Vehicle Inspection Strategy of the Country

Regular Inspection of the Vehicles In case of private vehicles, the frequency of inspection is once a year to see whether the vehicle is road worthy or not. The same inspection routine for the commercial vehicles is twice a year. The process of inspection of all the vehicles in the country is under the authority of Department of Roads and Transport Management, under His Majesty's Government. The process of renewing the registration of vehicles is done only after the regular inspection for roadworthiness and the emission check. However, the emission check for the used vehicles is done by the Traffic Police Department. Vehicles failing to meet the national roadworthiness standards are automatically subjected to repair and maintenance. They are not allowed to run from the very day, as their registration is invalid. The vehicles can be taken to any repair and maintenance shop and brought back for re-check. Inspection at the time of Import of Vehicles Vehicles entering into Nepal have to be within the prescribed 1999-Mass Vehicle Emission (EURO 1 based) Standard. This check is performed through the certificate of mass emission norms issued by the exporting country's authorized institution for the manufacturer of that particular unit submitted at the Nepalese custom office. Vehicles older than 5 years are not permitted to enter into Nepal.

Future plans
As regard to the controlling of emissions in Kathmandu valley, its future holds the expectations of the people of Kathmandu for viewing clear Himalayas with increase in number of visible clear days in a year. The hazy days are expected to be lessened with the banning of all kinds of polluting sources, vehicles in particular. The first plan is to gradually increase restricted areas for vehicles that fail the emission tests. Government envisages a plan for the failing vehicles to be asked to run outside the ring road and later outside the valley within few years from now. Besides, focus is given to mass urban transportation within the valley. Traffic management is taken care by improving practices each day. Roads are being repaired and broadened for improving the congestion situation of the area. Dated