890 traffic police deployed for Maha Shivaratri management

KATHMANDU: In anticipation of the massive crowd at Pashupatinath during Maha Shivaratri, the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police has formulated a security plan to ensure safe and organized movement.

The plan aims to facilitate smooth transit and easy access for devotees coming to worship at the temple.

To ensure efficient traffic management, parking arrangements have been made at Tilganga near the Eye Hospital, Sifalchowk, and on the Guhehswari side of the corridor road.

Fire trucks, ambulances, and water tankers will be parked in the Bankali area. Special parking arrangements are also in place for authorized vehicles at the Kosh office and Sifalchowk, and for police vehicles at the Gausala Police Station.

According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Binod Ghimire, parking will be organized at different points for vehicles coming from various entry points.

To cater to pilgrims traveling from distant locations, an uninterrupted flow of traffic has been ensured along with designated parking areas.

In case the flow of devotees creates congestion in the Gausala area, disrupting the movement of vehicles on the Ring Road, traffic restrictions will be enforced. Alternative routes will be used to maintain smooth traffic. Additional traffic officers have been deployed along the corridors and inner roads to ensure order.

Traffic flow will be maintained without disruption in areas like Chabahil, Gausala, and Tilganga, except in cases where there is extreme crowding, in which case diversion strategies will be adopted. Affected routes will be rerouted for better traffic management.

Commercial vehicles coming from Tinkune, Sinamangal, Boudha Area, Old Baneshwor, Gausala, and Mitrapark will not be allowed.

Vehicles traveling through Waghmati Corridor and Jorpati will be redirected through Chabahil to a designated parking area at Guhehswari.

If congestion prevents the smooth flow of traffic at Gausala Chowk, alternative routes will be implemented from Chabahil to Gausala, Old Baneshwor to Gausala, from the Gyaneshwar Maitidevi turn to Rato Pul, and from Sifal Chowk to Jay Bageshwori.

Plainclothes traffic police will also be deployed for surveillance to prevent thefts, and motorists are urged to park their vehicles securely.

A command center will be set up under the supervision of a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), and 890 traffic officers will be on duty.

Additional officers will be assigned as needed based on traffic volume.

The police spokesperson, SP Sanjay Bahadur Raut, assured that efforts would be made to provide a hassle-free experience for pilgrims and ensure smooth traffic during the festival. Traffic officers will also be deployed to manage crowds at other temples during the Shivaratri festival.