Kathmandu, October 13: The number of passengers leaving the Kathmandu Valley to celebrate Nepal’s major festival, Bada Dashain, with their families in their hometowns has been increasing daily. Since Ghatasthapana, 109,636 people have left the valley.
According to the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, 109,636 people have left the valley in 17,139 vehicles since Ghatasthapana.
As Dashain festival starts, people who have been living in the Kathmandu Valley for education, employment, and various professions and businesses have begun returning to their hometowns. As a result, passenger traffic has increased at the valley’s major exit points.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police Suresh Prasad Kafle, chief of the Valley Traffic Police, the departing passengers include 41,946 women and 67,690 men. He said passenger numbers on both long- and short-distance public transport services have been rising as people head home to celebrate Dashain.
With more people leaving the valley for the festival, vehicle traffic has intensified at Kathmandu’s major exit points. Passengers travelling to various districts are heading to their destinations by public buses and other vehicles.
The Valley Traffic Police Office said people are continuing to leave through major exit points, including Nagdhunga, Pharping, Thankot, Bhimdhunga, Teenpiple, Sankhu, Bhaktapur, and Bhattedanda. As the number of passengers returning home for Dashain has increased at these locations, traffic police have stepped up efforts to manage vehicle movement.
The number of people leaving the valley to celebrate Dashain with their families and relatives is expected to rise further. With public transport services becoming increasingly crowded during the festive season, ensuring safe and convenient travel has become an additional challenge.
Senior Superintendent of Police Kafle said traffic police personnel have been deployed on the roads around the clock to ensure passenger safety and reduce road accidents during Dashain, Tihar, and other festivals.
He said traffic police have intensified road monitoring to facilitate passenger movement, manage traffic congestion, and minimise the risk of accidents.
“Traffic police personnel are deployed on the roads 24 hours a day to ensure passenger safety and reduce road accidents. Our objective is to ensure that everyone reaches their destination safely,” he said.
He added that passengers travelling long distances during the festive season should pay particular attention to the condition of vehicles, drivers’ health, and driving hours. Both passengers and drivers can help reduce the risk of accidents by exercising caution.
According to the Department of Transport Management, traffic is currently operating in both directions on major roads, including the Nagdhunga–Naubise section, the Mugling–Narayanghat road, the Kanti Highway, and the BP Highway.
With traffic continuing to operate on these major roads despite the growing number of people leaving the valley for Dashain, passengers are expected to have relatively convenient access to their destinations.
However, travel time may increase due to congestion at major exit points. Punya Prasad Sitaula, president of the National Federation of Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs, said passengers should allow sufficient time when planning their journeys.
“With the number of people returning home for Dashain increasing, roads leading out of the valley and public transport services are expected to experience additional pressure. In these circumstances, traffic rules must be followed, vehicles must be driven at safe speeds, and passenger numbers must remain within vehicle capacity,” he said.
Dashain is one of Nepal’s major cultural and family festivals, during which people return to their homes from different parts of the country. As residents of the Kathmandu Valley who have been living there for education, employment, and business begin travelling back to their hometowns, activity has increased on the capital’s roads, at bus parks, and at major exit points.
— RSS
Login to add a comment