KATHMANDU, Sept 22: Advance booking of public transport tickets for Dashain will be open from September 28. This year, Ghatasthapana falls on October 3.
A meeting between Devendra Dahal, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT), and representatives of the National Federation of Nepalese Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE), took this decision on Saturday. The meeting also decided to discuss with the Department of Transport Management (DoTM) before opening advance ticket bookings.
The meeting chaired by Minister Dahal has decided on seven-points regarding the demands of entrepreneurs. The meeting has directed that all the roads under the Department of Roads be repaired before Ghatasthapana.
Ishwari Datta Paneru, spokesperson for the DoTM, said that it has been decided to request the Ministry of Home Affairs and Nepal Police to operate only small vehicles and to suspend night vehicles operations on the BP highway for road safety and the DoTM will monitor it and report to the MoPIT.
Saroj Sitaula, the senior vice-president of the FNNTE, said that the advance ticket booking will be opened after discussions with the MoPIT and the Ministry of Home Affairs and following the meeting with the DoTM within a day or two
Vehicles will undergo mechanical testing to facilitate easy management for reaching their destinations. Since there has been no scientific fare adjustment for the past three years, it has been decided that the fare adjustment will be made after a week of the Chhath festival.
