The Supreme Court has issued a stay order stopping use of BP Highway by big vehicles.
A single bench of Justice Sapana Malla Pradhan hearing a writ petition filed by advocate Kailash Dahal, a resident of Sindhuli district through which the highway passes, has issued an interim order to the government to not implement the decision to allow big vehicles in the highway.
The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport on May 27 had allowed 32-seater passenger buses and trucks weighing 16 tons (including cargo) to ply in the highway.
Two previous studies had found that the highway can handle load of up to 10 tons and recommended that only 18-seater vehicles, and trucks weighing less than 10 tons should use the highway. But the ministry had ignored the previous studies and opened the highway for 32-seater buses and trucks weighing 16 tons. The ministry had opened the highway for use by trucks from nine in the night till five in the morning.
The writ petition demanded revocation of the ministry’s decision arguing that road safety would be compromised and accidents can rise due to unhealthy competition, public health and life would be at risk due to environmental affect and pollution, and the narrow highway itself would be damaged due to its use by heavier vehicles.
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