Kathmandu, September 20
Nine local governments in Kathmandu Valley have joined a common programme to expand night-time public bus services in the Valley.
Led by Kathmandu Metropolitan City, the local governments have partnered with Sajha Yatayat to expand the night bus service that was launched on a trial basis from April 14.
Under the agreement, the participating local governments will share financial responsibilities based on the requirements for expanding and operating the service.
The agreement was signed with Sajha Yatayat on Constitution Day, with the aim of providing convenient, safe and reliable transportation at night for commuters, businesspeople, entrepreneurs, workers, patients travelling to hospitals and domestic and international tourists.
The local governments signing the agreement are Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Lalitpur Metropolitan City, Budhanilkantha Municipality, Godawari Municipality, Chandragiri Municipality, Kirtipur Municipality, Bhaktapur Municipality, Suryabinayak Municipality and Madhyapur Thimi Municipality. Sajha Yatayat Chairman Sushil Raj Pyakurel signed the agreement on behalf of the transport company.
Following the agreement, 30 buses have begun operating on six routes.
Kathmandu Metropolitan City Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol said the night bus service was being expanded as part of efforts to improve access to basic services guaranteed to citizens by the Constitution.
She said four additional buses had been added to the two routes operated during the trial period, increasing the total number of buses from seven to 30. The number of municipalities involved has also increased from four to nine.
Lalitpur Metropolitan City Mayor Chiribabu Maharjan said local governments had begun collaborating on a locally operated transport system after the federal government failed to move ahead with plans for a metro system in the Valley.
Sajha Yatayat Chairman Pyakurel said the expanded service would provide a reliable option for people travelling safely at night.
Which routes will the night buses operate on?
Under the expanded service, six buses will operate between Jagati-Suryabinayak and Thamel, while another six will run between Godawari and Thamel via Lagankhel and Budhanilkantha.
Eight buses will operate along the Ring Road in both clockwise and anticlockwise directions.
Four buses will run between Kirtipur and Jamal, two between Takhel and Thamel, and four on the existing Nagdhunga-Airport route.
Previously, seven buses operated a trial night service between Lagankhel and Budhanilkantha and between Nagdhunga and the Airport from 8 pm to 11 pm.
How will the service be funded?
Under the agreement, if ticket revenue is insufficient to cover the operating costs, the seven municipalities will jointly bear 50 percent of the shortfall.
The remaining 50 percent will be covered according to the population of the participating municipalities. Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Lalitpur Metropolitan City will each contribute 18.55 percent, while the other seven municipalities will contribute 9 percent each.
If additional funds are required to operate the service, Sajha Yatayat will submit a quarterly request for the necessary amount.
The participating municipalities will determine bus boarding and drop-off points along the routes. Sajha Yatayat has been assigned responsibility for installing digital signage and developing and operating digital bus stops by the end of fiscal year 2026/27.
With the night bus service available around the Ring Road, passengers will be able to reach different parts of the Valley by changing buses at designated points. The maximum fare for such journeys will be Rs 80.
Sajha Yatayat has also been developing a digital ticketing system since September 17 to reduce revenue leakage. Passengers will be able to purchase tickets either by QR payment or cash.
The Government of Nepal holds shares worth Rs 3 billion in Sajha Yatayat, while Kathmandu Metropolitan City has invested Rs 150 million. Sajha Yatayat currently operates 111 buses.
