KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 7

The Department of Transport Management has announced that advance booking of bus tickets for the upcoming Dashain, Tihar, and Chhath festivals will open from September 17.

According to a meeting held today among officials of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, the Department of Transport Management, the Department of Roads, traffic police, and transport entrepreneurs, preparations are under way to create an easy and secure environment for commuters to exit and enter Kathmandu valley for the upcoming festive season.

According to the DoTM, an agreement has been reached with transport entrepreneurs to open advance booking for tickets and provide discounts to passengers who book tickets online.

In addition, it has been decided to effectively monitor advance ticket booking and public vehicles leaving and entering the valley in collaboration with the DoTM, traffic police, consumer forums, businesspeople, and labourers.

It was decided to enforce the use of masks and safety measures for commuters, as the risk of contracting COVID in crowded places is still high.

The department has decided to discourage the sale of tickets from unauthorised counters and people without identity cards. It will also request authorities concerned to repair and maintain roads.

It was decided in the meeting to stop the operation of large vehicles, including trailers, travelling from Narayanghat to Kathmandu from October 1 to 8, except those transporting essential items, such as food grains, to ease traffic operation.

According to Dekhnath Gautam, spokesperson for the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs, transport entrepreneurs have agreed to start providing services related to advance ticket booking after reaching an agreement with the department.

'The department has agreed to maintain and repair roads, as well as monitor the sale of tickets from unauthorised people and stalls,' he said.

A version of this article appears in the print on September 8, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.