4 years ago
Although the government has urged people to stay wherever they are and celebrate Dashain there, 21,000 passengers have left the Kathmandu Valley on Saturday afternoon only to celebrate Dashian.
However, the total number of people leaving the Kathmandu Valley is expected to decrease significantly this year.
In the past, more than one lakh people would have left the Kathmandu Valley on the first day of Dashain. At the bus park and ticket counter, there used to be a long line of passengers who wanted to return to the village. However, this time the ticket counter and bus park are not crowded.
Saroj Sitaula, general secretary of the Federation of Nepal National Transport Entrepreneurs, said that more than half of the vehicles were running without much passengers.
Traffic Spokesperson Ramesh Prasad Yadav informed that 627,000 passengers left the Kathmandu Valley in Asoj. In the same period, 614,000 people entered. Long and medium distance public transport came into operation on Asoj 1. According to Yadav, 17,000 to 22,000 passengers have been entering and leaving the valley daily since then.
Many had left the valley before the government's announcement of a lockdown to prevent and control the corona virus infection.
Last year, more than 2 million people used to leave the Kathmandu Valley by public transport and private vehicles to celebrate Dashain. Traffic police and transport businessmen estimate that only 300,000 to 400,000 passengers will leave the valley this year.
Transport operators have not opened ticket bookings this year. Secretary General Sitaula said that it was not necessary to open prior ticket booking as the passenger pressure was less this time as compared to the previous year.
The government had proposed to the entrepreneurs to open advance ticket booking from 20 Asoj. However, there is a shortage of passengers even when less than 50 percent of the vehicles are brought into operation. Entrepreneurs claim that it is difficult to get passengers at full capacity even with the vehicles in operation.
Around 3 lakh public transports are in operation across the country.
Public transport will be able to carry passengers at full capacity. A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Asoj 26 has decided to allow vehicles to carry passengers at full capacity at the old fare. The Council of Ministers had made an arrangement to drive half-seat capacity vehicles and charge up to 50 percent more fare earlier.
Spokesperson Yadav said that the decision of the Council of Ministers on the issue of fare and seat capacity was received by the traffic police only at 1pm on Saturday. From now on, vehicles carrying passengers at full seat capacity will not be subject to police action.
Passenger help desk in 10 places
Passenger help desks have been set up at 10 places in the Kathmandu Valley in collaboration with the Department of Transport Management, Traffic Police and transport businessmen. Help desks are located in Kalanki, Koteshwar, Gongbu, Koteshwar, Balkhu, Gaushal and other places.
The help desk has long and medium distance fare details. There are concerns that vehicles have not been following health safety protocols.
