Kathmandu, July 22

Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Sajha Yatayat are joining hands for sustainable, safe, accessible and smooth public transportation in the Valley.

The metropolis has allocated Rs 100 million to procure larger buses and authorised Sajha Yatayat for their management and operation. Both the stakeholders will sign an agreement to operate the newly procured large buses by the next week.

Both KMC and Sajha Yatayat will share the revenue generated from the joint venture by plying the larger public vehicle on the main roads of the Valley.

The buses will be similar to the 55 seater large buses currently owned by Sajha Yatayat. “The larger vehicles can ferry more passengers in one trip and have enough space for the commuters and passengers. The smaller vehicles lack space for comfortable trips. Usually the passengers are sandwiched in the congested smaller vehicles,” said KMC Chief Executive Officer Rudra Singh Tamang, adding the large buses can help minimise public transportation hassles in the city.

He informed that about 20 new large buses will be procured and will be designated for city transport service. Currently Sajha Yatayat operates along the Swoyambu-Kalanki-Kalimati-Tripureshwor-Ratna Park-Jamal-Kamalpokhari-Gaushala-Pashupatinath route (east-west) and Lagankhel-Jawalakhel-Tripureshwor-NAC-Kantipath-Teaching-Maharajgunj-Basundhara-Gongabu route (north-south) with 16 large buses.

Mahendra Raj Pandey, Manager, Sajha Yatayat, said that routes will be expanded after new buses arrive.