The Nepali government has approved the National Transport Policy, 2083, with the aim of making the country's transport sector more technology-oriented, safer, environmentally sustainable and better organised.

The Council of Ministers approved the new policy following a proposal from the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport. With the introduction of the new policy, the National Transport Policy, 2058, which had been in force for more than two decades, has been repealed.

The new policy seeks to address rapid urbanisation, climate change risks, road safety challenges and advances in transport technology. Its primary objective is to develop a transport system in coordination with the federal, provincial and local governments. The government stated that the previous transport policy no longer reflected the country's federal governance structure. While the road network expanded under the earlier framework, further improvements were considered necessary in road safety, the quality of public transport, electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure and cross-border connectivity.

Road safety measures

To reduce road accidents and related fatalities, the policy adopts the Safe System Approach as its core strategy. Road Safety Audits will become mandatory for high-risk and strategically important road sections, while accident-prone "black spots" will be identified and upgraded. The policy also proposes integrating trauma care and emergency medical services based on the Golden Hour Response concept to improve post-accident rescue efforts. In addition, intelligent transport systems and automated traffic enforcement technologies will be expanded to address speeding, drink-driving and other traffic violations.

Focus on electric vehicles and green transport

Reducing petroleum imports and lowering carbon emissions are priorities under the new policy. To support the adoption of EVs, the government plans to introduce new standards covering charging stations, battery-swapping facilities and battery safety management. The policy also includes incentive programmes to encourage the use of electric buses, e-taxis and electric microbuses in public transport. The government plans to attract international investment in green transport infrastructure through carbon credits, green bonds and climate finance linked to emissions reduction initiatives.

Urban mobility and transport integration

To address congestion and improve public transport in major cities, including the Kathmandu Valley, the policy proposes the development of bus rapid transit systems, metro networks and dedicated bus lanes along major urban corridors.

Passenger convenience will be supported through integrated ticketing, digital payment systems and smart parking solutions. The policy also includes the construction of infrastructure for pedestrians, cyclists and other forms of non-motorised transport.

A multimodal transport network linking road, rail, air and water transport is also planned. The policy includes the development of dry ports, integrated check posts and cross-border rail and road links at key trade gateways with India and China.

Regional transport and logistics will be developed under cooperation frameworks, including BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal), BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) and SASEC (South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation), through measures intended to make cross-border transport more efficient and cost-effective. The policy also proposes the construction of dedicated freight corridors and integrated rest areas for trucks and other commercial vehicles.

Implementation and review

To support implementation, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has prepared a detailed action plan comprising 103 activities, with defined timelines and responsibilities for the relevant authorities.

The ministry will regularly monitor and evaluate the policy's implementation. Progress will be formally assessed every three years, while the policy itself will undergo a comprehensive review and, where necessary, be amended every five years.