New Law to Hold Individuals Liable for Road Accidents Caused by Obstructions

Kathmandu. If you place materials like stones, sand, rods, or bricks on the road or footpath, be careful now! A new law is being drafted that will hold you (the person or entity placing the materials) entirely responsible for any accident caused by construction materials or other goods haphazardly piled on the road. The 'Road Safety Act, 2083', recently registered in the Federal Parliament, proposes this strict and historic provision to end the practice of encroaching on roads as personal property and increasing the risk of accidents.

This is a common and serious problem in Nepal's urban and semi-urban areas. The bill, aimed at drawing citizens' attention and enforcing road discipline, clearly states in Section 31, Subsection (3) that those who place goods on the road will be directly held financially liable.