KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 4
Minister for Physical Infrastructures and Transport Management, Prakash Jwala, has pledged to ensure smooth public transportation during the upcoming festivals, such as Dashain, Tihar, and Chhath.
These festivals typically witness a higher volume of road and air travel across the country.
During a meeting of the transport infrastructure committee under the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Minister Jwala emphasized that the government would prioritize making public transportation more commuter-friendly, despite facing resource limitations.
He stressed the government's commitment to coordinating and facilitating necessary actions among relevant authorities for the repair and improvement of highways and auxiliary roads in preparation for the festivals.
However, Minister Jwala noted that incessant rainfall had disrupted road repair efforts. Nevertheless, he assured the public that the ministry is dedicated to ensuring hassle-free travel for people moving between cities and villages during the festive season.
It is estimated that at least 1.5 million people will be leaving the Kathmandu Valley to visit different districts for the Dashain festival this year.
During the meeting, committee members including Thakur Gaire, Mahesh Basnet, Pratima Gautam, Dinesh Kumar Yadav, Madhav Sapkota, and others urged the government to allocate the necessary budget for road repair and upgrades to facilitate convenient and hassle-free travel.
The government was also informed about the possibility of highway eateries overcharging bus passengers in the lead-up to the festivals.
