The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has prepared a new Public Roads Bill designed to impose stricter penalties for activities that harm public roads in Nepal. This bill aims to replace the existing "Public Roads Act, 2031" with more comprehensive regulations.
Under the proposal, damaging a road, digging it up, or building structures along it without permission could lead to fines of up to Rs 10 lakh and jail of up to six months. The bill specifies that investigations into such offenses must be conducted by at least a gazetted third-class officer from the relevant road office, with cases being filed before a higher authority.
Anyone planning work on or beside a public road would first need written approval from the road authority, with designs, drawings, and other documents. The authority could set strict conditions and deadlines. If those conditions are broken, it could order immediate removal. Setting up petrol or diesel pumps, LPG plants, EV charging stations, toll plazas, hotels, garages, driving centers, industries, or factories along roads without approval could also attract fines of up to Rs 10 lakh. The authority could demolish illegal structures and recover the costs from the owners.
Unapproved installation of drainage, pipelines, electricity poles, or cables within the road area could be fined up to Rs 10 lakh. Other proposed penalties include:
- Up to Rs 5,000 for letting domestic animals roam on public roads
- Up to Rs 50,000 for blocking land acquisition or legal notice posting
- Up to Rs 1 lakh for cutting or damaging roadside trees
- Up to Rs 5 lakh on the spot for freight vehicles breaching axle load limits
- Up to Rs 1 lakh for oversize vehicles or construction machines that damage pavement or bridges
- Up to Rs 1 lakh for obstructing soil, stone, or sand extraction needed for road projects
The bill is not law yet. It must still pass both houses of the Federal Parliament, be approved by the President, and be published in the Nepal Gazette before these penalties take effect. The bill also outlines the classification of road networks into federal, provincial, and local levels, setting road boundaries and structure limits, and granting road offices the authority to remove encroaching structures.
For vehicle owners and operators, the message is straightforward. Overloaded trucks, unsafe construction equipment, and unapproved fuel or EV stations near roads could soon become very costly. The bill's preamble emphasizes the development of a safe, quality, affordable, and reliable road network to achieve social-cultural integration and economic prosperity.
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