Kathmandu, March 6
The city’s first public semi-low floor bus is all set to begin its service from Wednesday, operator of the bus Sajhaya Yatayat says.
The Ashok Leyland bus, which was manufactured in India, will connect major hospitals in the city along its route. The disabled-friendy bus service will be flagged off by Kathmandu’s Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya.
The bus service has been started in view of patients visiting hospitals along the route, added Sajha Yatayat’s chief executive Mahendra Raj Pandeya. He said that it will be easier for the disabled, women and pregnant women to board the bus, which will connect nine hospitals on its route. The hospitals covered are: Patan Hospital, Nidan Hospital, Tripureshwor Eye Hospital, Bir Hospital, Kanti Children’s Hospital, Teaching Hospital, Gangalal Hospital and Neuro Hospital.
According to Sajha, the bus was bought for Rs 3.5 million. A total of 41 people can travel seated. The low-floor bus’s limitation is that it can’t be driven on uneven surface. That is why Sajha chose the route which had the best road in Kathmandu.
Sajha plans to procure 29 more buses in the near future. After the procurement, the total number of buses in its fleet will reach 75.
