Government rumoured to propose up to Rs 10 lakh fine for damaging Nepal’s public roads

The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has prepared a new Public Roads Bill that would bring much tougher penalties for any activity that harms public roads.

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.

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 centres, 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.

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.