Transporters agree to begin advance booking of tickets for Dashain from Friday

Kathmandu, September 18

Transport entrepreneurs have finally agreed to start advance booking for long-route buses for Dashain, beginning on Friday (September 23).

The date to open advance bus ticket booking was finalised after a meeting of stakeholders took a decision to this effect today.

“Long-route commuters can book their tickets from ticket stations at bus parks and other ticket outlets across Kathmandu Valley,” said Dolnath Khanal, president of the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs Association.

New Bus Park, Kalanki, Koteshwor and Gaushala are the core areas where commuters can book bus tickets, according to FNNTEA.

Though advance bus ticket booking for the public usually opens a month before Dashain festival begins, transporters this year delayed the announcement demanding to temporarily halt construction work under way at Narayangadh-Mugling section for smooth vehicular movement and a hike in fare for passengers travelling in super deluxe buses.

Khanal said the Department of Transport Management today agreed to the proposal to halt construction work at Narayangadh-Mugling section for up to three weeks. Similarly, DoTM also increased commuter fare for super deluxe buses, added Khanal.

“DoTM today developed a standard for super-deluxe buses. The standard now allows us to charge 20 per cent more from commuters travelling in such buses than the fares being charged from those travelling in deluxe buses,” he added.

Meanwhile, consumer activists have criticised the government and transport entrepreneurs for the delay in starting advance booking of bus tickets.

“Commuters are worried about their travel plans to their hometowns this Dashain because of the delay in the announcement of advance booking,” Madhav Timalsina, president of Consumers’ Right Investigation Forum said, adding that neither the government nor transport entrepreneurs are serious about consumers’ concerns.

Transport workers under police watch

KATHMANDU: As Dashain nears, police have stepped up vigil against crooked transport workers to prevent sale of bus tickets in black market and fleecing of the people who are leaving Kathmandu Valley for their hometowns and villages to joining their families.

Kalanki, Satdobato, Balkhu, Koteshwor, airport, Gaushala, Jorpati, New Bus Park, Old Bus Park, Sundhara, Swoyambhu and Nagdhunga are among the places that have ticket counters for buses.

They are under constant surveillance to check unethical business practices and provide necessary help to passengers.

A police official said four persons, including two bus drivers, from the capital were arrested on Saturday for selling tickets at inflated prices.

“They charged Rs 1,350 for travelling to Nepalgunj from Kathmandu against Rs 956 fixed by the Department of Transport Management, saying their bus was equipped with free Wi-Fi service,” he said.

The accused have been charged with fraud.

Though the pre-booking of bus tickets is yet to begin, transport workers and employees have started fleecing the passengers, selling tickets at inflated rates.