21 January 2022, Kathmandu
The Kathmandu Valley administrations are implementing the odd and even rule for vehicles from today midnight in view of the increasing cases of COVID-19, including the new variant Omicron.
Acting Chief District Officer (CDO) of Kathmandu, Suprabha Khanal Dhungel, on Thursday said that a meeting of CDOs issued an order to operate public and private vehicles (including two-wheelers) with odd registration number on odd days of the week and even registration number on even days in Kathmandu Valley.
However, Valley administrations have issued a new order on Friday specifying types of vehicles that will be exempt from the rule. Vehicles transporting goods for most essential categories and a few others will not have to adhere to the rule.
To clear off the confusion surrounding the odd-even number system in the vehicles, the District Administration Office, Kathmandu, said that ambulances, hearse, fire brigade, vehicles supplying gas, oxygen cylinders and petroleum products will be allowed to ply the roads irrespective of their number plates.
Also, those vehicles carrying medicine and healthcare tools and materials, food items and agricultural products will be allowed, a statement signed by DAO officiating CDO Suprabha Khanal.
Vehicles carrying construction materials, vehicles related to banks and financial institutions, aviation companies, postal and courier services, telecommunications services and journalists carrying identity card issued by the Department of Information and Broadcasting or their respective media houses are exempted from odd-even number system.
Thursday’s order also stipulated that public transport should not have more passengers than the seat capacity, that all passengers should be required to wear masks, and that sanitizers should be provided at the door of the vehicle and inside the vehicle.
Similarly, it was mentioned in the order that the head of the office will make proper management of the service flow in all the public and government bodies in the district.
