Dashain ticket booking to open from October 23

Kathmandu. In view of the approaching Dashain, Tihar and Chhath festivals, the advance booking of public transport tickets will be opened from September 23. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting of the stakeholders at the Department of Transport Management on Tuesday.

In order to facilitate the passengers going out of Kathmandu during the festival time, the department has organized a meeting with the National Federation of Transport Entrepreneurs, Transport Workers’ Organizations, Nepal Police, Traffic Police and New Bus Park Manager Lhotse Multipurpose Pvt. Ltd. Ltd. According to Deepak KC, president of All Nepal Transport Workers Organization, it has been agreed to open advance bookings from October 23.

It is estimated that more than 10 lakh passengers will leave the Kathmandu Valley during this year’s Dashain period. With this decision, the confusion among the general passengers has been removed due to the lack of advance ticket booking and only a few companies are taking online bookings.

The meeting also took various important decisions to ensure the safety, convenience and traffic management of passengers. According to the decision, now it will be mandatory to have two drivers in long-distance vehicles. The staff sitting at the ticket counter will have to wear an identity card and uniform, while the name and contact number of the passenger will have to be recorded while issuing the ticket.

The department has warned that strict legal action will be taken against anyone who charges more than the fixed fare, black marketeering and irregularities in ticket booking during the festival. Effective coordination will be made between the government, businessmen and security agencies for a transparent ticketing system.

KC also informed that a central information center will be set up for safe travel and for immediate exchange of information about obstacles or accidents on the highway. It has been decided to make it mandatory to provide essential facilities including first aid equipment, fire fighting equipment and drinking water in all passenger vehicles.

The participants of the meeting stressed on the need for effective mobilization of security forces to manage the excessive pressure of passengers at bus parks and ticket counters and to eliminate the compulsion of passengers to suffer due to lack of tickets. All sides have expressed their commitment to make Dashain and Tihar a festival of safe and well-managed transportation.