The out-going Nepal government's plan to phase out polluting vehicles from Kathmandu's Ring Road area by mid-July of 2000 may not materialize if the current state of bureaucratic red-tapism continues to dominate decision making at the Ministry of Works and Transport (MOWT). According to officials concerned, the phase-out programme plans to restrict pollution-test failed vehicles completely from capital's throughfares-inside most of Patan and Kathmandu muncipalities-by introducing new "restricted areas" by mid-July 2000.