Kathmandu, September 7
Transport entrepreneurs have defied the government order to open bus ticket booking for upcoming Dashain festival from today.
Many passengers had gone to the New Bus Park in Kathmandu to book the tickets, but they returned empty-handed after finding that the entrepreneurs decided not to launch the booking this year.
The transporters have been bargaining with the government for some changes in transportation rules and they have been adamant to launch the booking unless their demands are met.
Earlier, a meeting of stakeholders coordinated by the Department of Transport Management had decided to begin the booking today.
The Federation of Nepali National Transportation Entrepreneurs, which had agreed to launch the booking earlier, now says it will not open the booking unless its demands are met.
The organisation’s General Secretary Saroj Sitaula says the booking will not open unless the government allows the entrepreneurs to keep roofs on buses. Just few months ago, the government had decided to remove roofs of all buses as overloading resulted in accidents.
But, Sitaula says the rule is impractical as passengers need space to transport their goods as well. Nepalis coming from foreign nations have heavier luggage and they exceed the 20 kg ceiling fixed by the government, he claims.
