Kathmandu— Freight vehicles carrying loads beyond the prescribed limit have caused significant damage worth billions of rupees to major road infrastructure across Nepal. The District Traffic Police Office (DTPO) in Bardibas reports that load-control enforcement has been intensified following an increase in overloaded freight vehicles on several key routes, including the BP Highway and Mahendra Highway.

Enforcement Efforts Intensified

Traffic Inspector Baburam Karki of the DTPO said that during the fiscal year 2025/26, action was taken against 31 freight vehicles found carrying loads beyond the prescribed limit. A total of Rs. 797,554 was collected in fines from these offending vehicles. According to the traffic police, some penalised Indian freight trucks were found carrying loads as high as 60 tonnes.

Divisional Engineer Daroga Prasad of the Road Division Office, Janakpur, noted that most major roads in Madhes Province have a load-bearing capacity of only 10.2 metric tonnes. However, freight vehicles are often transporting between 50 and 60 tonnes of goods.

Impact on Infrastructure

Engineer Daroga Prasad highlighted that the practice of overloading has a direct impact on roads, bridges, and culverts. He stressed that infrastructure built at enormous public expense is being damaged well before its expected lifespan due to these practices.

Traffic personnel along the BP Highway reported that some drivers argue with officers, claiming that traffic police have no authority to stop them because they possess customs receipts and customs declaration documents.

(With inputs from Rising Nepal)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.