Kathmandu, Oct 7: Booking for public transport tickets for Dashain will open on Asoj 23 to manage the surge in passengers travelling home for the festival.
The Department of Transport Management made the decision Tuesday following discussions with transport operators, truck and freight associations, transport workers’ unions, traffic police and other stakeholders.
Department Director General Rajiv Pokharel said advance booking will begin on Asoj 23. Route permit restrictions for long and medium distance vehicles will also be relaxed from Fulpati through the full moon day, allowing reserve vehicles to operate according to passenger demand.
The measure aims to handle the large number of people travelling within a short period during Dashain by deploying additional vehicles alongside regular services.
Freight transport will also be regulated during the festival. From Fulpati through the full moon day, freight vehicles will give priority to essential goods, including fruits, vegetables, medicines, goats, food and other necessities. Transportation of nonessential goods may be postponed depending on traffic conditions.
Pokharel said passenger help desks have been established at several locations to quickly address problems related to ticket sales and transport services. Fifteen such desks are currently operating.
Committees comprising representatives of the Transport Management Department, transport operators, workers’ organisations and traffic police have also been formed at major transport hubs, including bus parks, Koteshwor and Balkhu.
The help desks will handle complaints involving ticket shortages, overcharging, ticket black marketing and other passenger problems.
Pokharel said authorities will not tolerate ticket scalping or black marketing through middlemen. Official fare lists will be displayed at designated ticket counters and passenger help desks, and operators will be required to follow the approved fares.
Punya Prasad Sitaula, president of the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs, said the federation has provided ticket counters for long-distance buses operating from bus parks.
He said operators have been urged to keep fares within the rates fixed by the government. Any operator found charging above the official fare can face government action.
People’s News Monitoring Service
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