Night buses to ply in Capital next month on

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: A night bus service is being launched in the Capital from August 17 to facilitate commuters in reaching their destination at night.

Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs Association have reached agreement in writing to operate 14 buses for a probation period of six months.

As per the agreement, the bus service will operate from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm every night on five major routes.

This is the first time that the City will have intra-city night bus service. Until now, night shift employees had been forced to resort to the mercy of unscrupulous cabbies or take the risk of walking home. Commuters will be charged daytime fares.

The concerned parties have set six routes in Kathmandu and Lalitpur. The starting point of the bus will be Ratna Park except for four buses going round the Ring Road.

According to the agreement, the buses will ply on the Ratna Park-Kalanki, Ratna Park-Bansbari, Ratna Park-Jorpati, Ratna Park-Singamangal- Koteshwor, Ratna Park-Saatdobato and the Ring Road stretches.

KMC has agreed to provide a subsidy of Rs 4.5 million to the association as part of fuel and maintenance expenses for a period of six months.

The night bus service agreement could be extended, officials said.

They also preparing to arrange lighting system at pick-up and drop points for security reasons.

DSP Dhiraj Pratap Singh, spokesperson of Kathmandu Police, said two armed cops equipped will be deployed in every bus to ensure security of passengers and entrepreneurs.

Police will be deploy Quick Response Teams comprising a fleet of motorcycles to escort buses.