Kathmandu, October 2

Around 1.2 million people have left Kathmandu valley to join their families back home to celebrate Dashain festival.

According to statistics provided by Metropolitan Traffic Police Division, the outflow of people from the valley was 11,91,988 against the inflow of 7,69,676 from September 22 to October 1. As many as 1,37,083 vehicles ferried the passengers to their destinations during the period through Thankot, Dakshinkali, Jagati and Balaju transit points. On an average, the outflow of people is likely to surge till Mahaasthami. Fulpati and Mahaashtami are the busiest travel days and after those days the valley witnesses a lull for a few days. People have also been boarding queue-free buses for which they don’t have to book tickets. Those leaving the valley for Dashain included migrant workers, students, civil servants, and employees of private enterprises. According to MTPD, around 2.5 million people were expected to head for their hometowns via road and air.

It said traffic police personnel were mobilised to manage and regulate vehicular traffic to ensure passengers’ safety and facilitate them. Passenger help desks have been set up in 14 places of the valley. Equipment have been mobilised on the Naubise-Nagdhunga stretch to remove vehicles with mechanical breakdown causing traffic congestion on the busy highway.

Special security arrangements have been put in place to prevent and control road accidents on the highways. Speed limit has been kept at 35 km/hr for tippers.

The Department of Transport Management has imposed a ban on lorries, cargo trucks, multi-axle tractors and trailers on the Kathmandu-Narayangadh road section during Dashain, as the vehicles were likely to cause traffic congestion and accidents.

MTPD said it had stepped up action against rule violators. It has booked 15 transport entrepreneurs of long-route vehicles for not hiring two drivers. As many as 232 travel entrepreneurs have faced action for overcharging passengers.

Traffic police have also been conducting mechanical test of the vehicles leaving the valley. They said as many as 14,848 persons were booked for violating traffic rule.