Cameras on Board, Responsibility on the Road

Kathmandu Valley's public transport system is finally beginning to embrace a tool it has long lacked: technology. Authorities say GPS devices, CCTV cameras and dash cameras have now been installed in 3,303 public vehicles operating across the Valley. The Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office has described the move as part of a broader effort to improve passenger safety, monitor misconduct and make public transportation more accountable. The Department of Transport Management and traffic police have also begun monitoring compliance, while transport operators are gradually following the directives. Traffic police have indicated that GPS and dashboard cameras will enable authorities to identify reckless driving, overcharging of passengers and other forms of misconduct by transport workers. These tools can also serve as powerful instruments in preventing road accidents, as they record road conditions and drivers' actions. Their deployment reinforces the idea that technology can play a vital role in improving a sector long plagued by weak oversight and public dissatisfaction. At the same time, authorities have called for formal guidelines governing how these devices are installed, operated and maintained. Their concerns are justified, as technology alone cannot bring meaningful improvements without clear rules and effective enforcement.