Kathmandu, October 12
More than 207,000 passengers departed from Kathmandu’s New Bus Park between October 3 and 11 to celebrate Dashain with their families, as the annual festive exodus from the Valley gathered momentum.
Pankaj Malla, general manager of Lhotse Multipurpose Pvt Ltd, which operates the 161-ropani bus park, said that 207,251 passengers had left the bus park during the nine days.
The highest number of departures was recorded on October 9, when 31,235 passengers left Kathmandu. A total of 29,602 passengers departed on October 6 and 29,380 on October 11.
The bus park, which accommodates up to 800 buses operating on short- and long-distance routes, recorded 18,729 departures on October 3, rising to 23,016 on October 5 and 25,201 on October 8.
The festive rush has posed challenges for transport operators amid disruptions along major highways.
Deknath Gautam, general secretary of the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs, said a road subsidence at Galaundi in Dhading along the Prithvi Highway on October 9 disrupted traffic, leaving several buses stranded in Kathmandu Valley.
The federation has urged passengers to purchase tickets in advance, pay only prescribed fares and check vehicle conditions before travelling.
—RSS
