Kathmandu, October 16: As Nepal’s biggest festival, Bada Dashain, approaches, the number of people leaving the Kathmandu Valley to return to their hometowns has begun to rise. People living in the capital for education, employment and various professions and businesses are heading home to celebrate Dashain.
Public transport services operating from various exit points of the Kathmandu Valley to destinations across the country have witnessed a growing number of passengers travelling both long and short distances. More people are returning to their hometowns to celebrate the festival with their families and relatives.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Rabindra Khanal of the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office said that 348,314 passengers had left the Valley between Ghatasthapana and Friday morning to celebrate Dashain.
According to him, 52,827 passengers left Kathmandu on October 11 (Ashoj 25), 56,809 on October 12 (Ashoj 26), 78,138 on October 13 (Ashoj 27), 74,979 on October 14 (Ashoj 28), and 85,561 on October 15 (Ashoj 29).
Passengers have been leaving Kathmandu through various exit points, including Pharping, Nagdhunga, Thankot, Bhimdhunga, Teenpiple, Sankhu, Jagati in Bhaktapur and Bhattedanda in Lalitpur.
With the number of people returning home for Dashain increasing, transport operators are facing difficulties managing passenger services. Rajendra Acharya, treasurer of the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs and chairman of Nepal Microbus Company, said road conditions had created problems in managing transport services.
“Damage to various national highways during the Dashain period has made it difficult for vehicles to reach their destinations on time and return to Kathmandu, creating problems in managing the vehicles,” he said.
On October 9 (Ashoj 23), the day advance bus ticket bookings opened for Dashain, traffic movement was disrupted after a section of the Prithvi Highway at Galaundi in Dhading subsided. As a result, many vehicles were stranded in Kathmandu, further complicating transport management.
Meanwhile, 153,732 passengers have so far booked advance tickets for Dashain travel. According to the Traffic Police Office, 21,300 passengers booked tickets on October 9 (Ashoj 23), 76,079 on October 10 and 11 (Ashoj 24 and 25), 17,197 on October 12 (Ashoj 26), 15,553 on October 13 (Ashoj 27), 18,529 on October 14 (Ashoj 28), and 5,074 on October 15 (Ashoj 29).
The Federation has urged passengers to travel only after purchasing tickets, pay the prescribed fares, and check the condition of vehicles before travelling.
As Dashain strengthens bonds among families, relatives and communities, the annual flow of people returning home from the capital, where they live for employment and education, continues to grow during the festive season.
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