Traffic police seize eight motorcycles for causing noise pollution in Kathmandu Valley

KATHMANDU: The Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office has seized eight motorcycles for illegally modifying their structure to produce excessive noise, contributing to sound pollution in the Valley.

Traffic police stepped up monitoring and inspection after receiving a growing number of complaints from local residents about motorcycles creating loud and disturbing noise in different parts of the Valley.

According to Senior Superintendent of Police Navaraj Adhikari, Chief of the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, the motorcycles were seized during a special inspection drive conducted along the Nepaltar–Dadagaun road section in Tarkeshwar Municipality-8.

“Following complaints that motorcycles were being modified to create loud noise in the Tarkeshwar area, traffic police increased surveillance,” Adhikari said. “During the inspection, eight motorcycles were seized from an IT garage that was operating without registration with the concerned authorities.”

Police found that the motorcycles had been illegally modified, including alterations to silencer pipes and other structural components, resulting in excessive noise levels. Such modifications not only increase environmental pollution but also negatively affect the daily lives of the general public.

Naresh Raj Subedi, spokesperson of the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office and Superintendent of Police, said loud vehicles pose serious risks to human health.

“Excessive noise affects children, senior citizens, patients and students the most,” Subedi said. “We urge all vehicle owners not to operate vehicles that have been structurally modified to produce loud noise.”

According to police, legal action will be taken against the seized vehicles in accordance with the Vehicle and Transport Management Act, 1993. The motorcycles have been kept at the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office for further investigation and necessary action.

Traffic police have also urged vehicle owners and garage operators to strictly follow legal standards and refrain from making illegal modifications to vehicles.