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The government is all set to mark the coming decade as ‘EV Decade’ rendering priority to mass mobility of electric vehicles (EVs) during the stipulated time period.

Unveiling the ‘National Transport Policy 2026,’ the government has planned to transform the transport system from traditional to modern, integrated, secure and sustainable types. A Cabinet meeting last month gave the go-ahead to this policy, which has set a clear road map for the transformation of the transport system in the next decade.

Ramhari Pokharel, spokesperson for the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MoID), informed that this policy has been endorsed to address the changing federal structure, spreading urbanization, challenges of climate change and development of modern technology.

According to the MoID, this policy has attempted to address road safety, promotion of electric vehicles, mass transit, multi-dimensional transport systems and investment in an integrated manner. To mitigate the risks of climate change and increase Nepal's clean energy consumption, the government has made e-mobility its top priority through this policy.

Likewise, to make the coming decade the decade of electric vehicles, an 'e-mobility transition roadmap' will be prepared and private and public vehicles will be electrified in a phased manner.

Innovative financial mechanisms such as 'Vehicle Gap Funding' (VGF) will be implemented within a year to discourage the import of fossil fuel-based vehicles and encourage electric vehicles. Under this scheme, the government will provide grants or concessional loans to entrepreneurs operating electric buses in public transport.

For clean and green transportation, arrangements have been made to expand a comprehensive network of charging stations across the country and provide battery swapping facilities (replacing an empty or low-charged battery of an electric vehicle with another charged battery within a few minutes).

‘End of Life’ guidelines will be implemented for the safe management and recycling of batteries required for electric vehicles. For the first time, the policy includes a provision for carbon trading and carbon credit for large transport projects that contribute to carbon emission reduction.

The concept of ‘Green Corridor’ has been introduced to emphasize tree plantation and construction of eco-friendly infrastructure on the roadside, while the goal is to revise the vehicle renewal and taxation system based on carbon emissions, which will gradually replace conventional fuel vehicles.

With the implementation of this policy, a ‘road safety audit’ has been made mandatory at the planning stage while constructing any new road. High priority has been given to identifying risky bends and places (black spots) on previously completed roads and making immediate improvements. The policy states that a separate annual budget will be managed for this.

As per the policy, the ‘National Road Safety Council’ will be strengthened to effectively implement road safety and its institutional structure will be expanded to the provincial and local levels.

The government has adopted the concept of ‘Golden Hour’ to make post-accident rescue and treatment systematic. State-of-the-art trauma care centers will be established on strategic road corridors in accordance with the principle that the injured should receive treatment within the first hour of an accident.

The policy includes a new provision to prepare infrastructure and procedures so that helicopters can be used as needed to rescue the seriously injured people. In addition, for the first time in Nepal, a legal system regarding 'good rescuers' is being implemented, which will not face any legal hassles and will encourage citizens or employees who assist people involved in road accidents by taking them to the hospital.