To address the increasing air pollution in the valley, a free vehicle emission testing event was held near Tribhuvan Park in Chandragiri Municipality on the 29th and 30th of May and vehicles that passed the emission test were given Green Stickers.

During this event, 100 vehicles were tested in the 2-day camp out of which 56 vehicles passed the emission test and 25 vehicles that did not have green stickers received green stickers. This initiative was organized by Chandragiri Municipality in collaboration with USAID Clean Air, Vehicle Fitness Test Center (VFTC) of the Department of Transport Management, Nepal Traffic Police, and other key stakeholders.

The two-day event provided vehicle owners with a complimentary assessment of their vehicle emissions, offering an opportunity to identify and address potential pollution issues. Cars, buses, trucks, and heavy vehicles were tested during the vehicle emission test. The emission tests were free of charge and aimed to foster greater awareness and responsibility towards maintaining vehicle health and reducing harmful emissions that contribute to air pollution.

Speaking about the vehicle test, the Mayor of the Chandragiri Municipality Mr. Ghanashyam Giri said, “Vehicle emission is one of the major sources of air pollution and this kind of test was much needed in Chandragiri Municipality. I am sure this test campaign will be a massive help to reduce air pollution in Kathmandu and we are also looking forward to organizing more such campaigns in future. We have requested the traffic police to divert the vehicles emitting black smoke into the testing station for the event.”

Similarly, Deputy Mayor of the Chandragiri Municipality Bashanti Shrestha stated that this is just a model which has been initiated and must be replicated in all the municipalities and districts for a clean environment. She also mentioned that whenever she notices air pollution, she immediately takes the initiative to stop that.

Bhushan Tuladhar, Chief of Party from USAID Clean Air stated: “USAID Clean Air is committed to supporting Nepal in its efforts to combat air pollution and promote sustainable urban environment. This free vehicle emission testing event is a significant step towards cleaner air and a healthier environment for the residents of Chandragiri Municipality. We encourage all vehicle owners to take advantage of this opportunity to ensure their vehicles are eco-friendly and compliant with emission standards.”

DSP Surya Prakash Subedi stated that this is a good start for testing vehicles for the second time. He said, “I hope there is a laboratory established for the same in the municipality.”

The USAID Clean Air Program is dedicated to improving air quality through initiatives aimed at reducing emissions from various sources. The program includes efforts to promote pollution-free transportation options, support policies for air quality improvement, and engage communities in actions to reduce air pollution.