Launch of ‘Use Mandatory Mask’ campaign

KATHMANDU: JAN. 20 – The Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police have begun a ‘Use of Mandatory Mask’ campaign aimed at public bus drivers, co-drivers, and passengers.

The Metropolitan Traffic Police, in collaboration with the National Federation of Nepali Transport Entrepreneurs, has started a campaign called “Use of Mandatory Mask” at New Road Gate starting today. Umesh Raj Joshi, Chief of the Division and Senior Superintendent of Police, and Saroj Sitaula, General Secretary of the Federation, kicked off the campaign by distributing public awareness pamphlets on public vehicles.

Chief of the Division Joshi, speaking at the occasion, said the ‘Use of Mandatory Mask’ campaign was initiated to avoid possible transmission through public transportation at a time when the third wave of COVID-19 is quickly spreading across the country. The department has announced that it will launch a public awareness campaign on 15,000 public vehicles in the first phase.

Sitaula, general secretary of the National Federation of Nepali Transport Entrepreneurs, said the campaign was aimed at preventing further damage to transport workers and passengers due to the third phase of COVID-19 infection.

“We will gradually take this campaign started from the capital to the whole country,” he said. He also urged transport workers across the country to wear masks.