KATHMANDU: After a sudden spike in COVID-19 cases, the Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday scrapped all the issued inter-district vehicle passes.

Nepal has reported 57 new cases on Tuesday itself taking the tally to 191.

Deputy Secretary at the Ministry Umakanta Adhikari said that the decision will be implemented from Thursday.

Earlier, government employees, employees of banks and financial institutions, industry, construction services and other people used to walk around showing the identity card of the office, but now they have to obtain passes from regulatory bodies.

The government had decided to let 42 different industries operate from last Friday. Similarly, one-third of the employees of government offices in Kathmandu Valley have been instructed to attend office.

It has resulted in traffic gridlock in Kathmandu mainly during rush hours.

This inter-district rule will not apply to three districts of the Kathmandu Valley. However, passes issued for movement within the Valley cannot be used for traveling outside.

All 77 District Administration Offices, Ministries of Internal Affairs, and Law of all the seven provinces, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force have been instructed to strictly implement the decision.

The decision comes after Prime Minister KP Oli had directed Cabinet ministers to implement the lockdown enforced to stem the spread of coronavirus strictly.

Mentioning that the number of infected people has increased, the prime minister had said that the lockdown should not be eased in such a situation.

During a Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday, PM Oli had also expressed his dissatisfaction saying that the traffic jam has increased in Kathmandu during the lockdown.