The International Policy Dialogue on Automobiles and Better Mobility 2025, organized by the Nepal Automobiles Sports Association (NASA Nepal) concluded successfully. The event was conducted during 2 – 3 August 2025 at Royal Tulip Kathmandu with the participation of 93 distinguished experts from Nepal and abroad.
At the event, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Devendra Dahal mentioned that NASA Nepal is doing work that even the government has not been able to do and is working to connect with various organizations in the country and abroad and to push for better mobility.
He also informed that the work on the Road Safety Act has reached the final stage, Minister Dahal expressed his commitment that the government will continue to prioritize the issue of road safety in the coming days as well.
The programme was attended by Sushil Babu Dhakal, chairman of the Asia Pacific Road Safety Observatory in Manila, Philippines and joint secretary of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport; vice president of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) Greg Kraft, founding president of the Automobile Association of Vietnam and founder of the AIP Foundation Ranjit Kaur Virk, general secretary of the Federation of Indian Automobile Associations and Western India Automobile Association, and Dr. KC Vohra, Director of the School of Automotive, Namtech India, were among those who participated in.
In the ‘Informative Session’ on the first day, Joint Secretary at the ministry Sushil Babu Dhakal. He also mentioned information about the programmes held in the Asia Pacific region on behalf of the Observatory. Moreover, NADA executive committee member Kapil Shiwakoti, and NASA Foundation Nepal executive director Subash Bhattarai presented detailed information.
Similarly, Shiwakoti made a presentation on the topic of ‘Import, production, employment and contribution to the economy of vehicles in Nepal’ while Bhattarai made a presentation on the UN Convention on Automobiles, Transport and Roads and Nepal.
At the Political Commitment Session, a panel discussion was held among former Minister, Member of the House of Representatives and Coordinator of the Alliance for Safe and Sustainable Mobility Nepal, Yogesh Bhattarai, National Assembly member Garima Shah, Lumbini Provincial Assembly member NimaGiri, and Karnali Provincial Assembly member Santoshi Shahi were the panellists.
On the occasion, the political leadership also expressed its commitment regarding the work being done for automobiles and mobility and the work to be done in their respective fields in the coming days.
In the Brainstorming with International Speakers session, Greg Kraft, Ranjit Kaur Virk, and Dr. KC Vohra discussed the work being done internationally in automotive innovation and road safety, among other areas.
Greg Kraft discussed two-wheeler safety, helmets, and Asian road safety, Kaur discussed sustainable tourism in South Asia, including IDPs, CDPs, and cross-border connectivity, and Vohra discussed the work being done to make the automobile sector safer.
In the Safer Mobility session, Dr. Bhagwati Sedhai presented on the topic of ‘Motorcyclist Safety and Youth Mobility,’ Senior Consultant at the Ministry of Health and Population, Ravindra Baskota, and CTO of Kathmandu Podway, Parivish Parajuli, provided information on the relevant issues.
Similarly, Dr. Pushparaj Pant, a research fellow and road transport researcher at the University of the West of England, gave an online presentation on ‘Road Classification, Public Transportation and Vehicle Certification in the UK’.
The innovative session was attended by Assistant Professors Sirpa Shrestha and Gokarna Poudel of Kathmandu University, School of Engineering, and Lochan Kendra Devkota, Assistant Professor of Tribhuvan University, Thapathali Campus, and Atish Gaire, CEO of Telematics Pvt. and Pravin Bhattarai, managing director of Drone Hub Nepal, discussed the academic work and innovations taking place in their respective fields.
The Sustainable Mobility Session featured Premlal Tamang, PhD scholar from the University of Malaya, Malaysia, and Rakesh Maharjan, general secretary of the Nepal Bicycle Society and urban planner and environmental activist Sanjay Pokharel discussed issues, particularly electric vehicles and cycling, as well as waterways and their safety in Nepal.
At the programme, Nepal Engineering Council chairman Prof. Dr. Padma Bahadur Shahi presented informative material on the topic of ‘Comparative Study of Nepali Geography and Population, Road and Transport’ Ekraj Subedi’s presentation on the challenges and opportunities of ride sharing in Nepal was part of the technical session.
NASA Nepal, established in the fields of public transport improvement campaigns, has been organizing various national and international training programmes, meetings, and conferences related to roads and transport. It also conducts Road Safety Audit, Star Rating Schools, Motorcycling Safety Campaign, Road Safety National and Media Awards, Road Safety Film Festival and so on.
