Himal Hub / As Nepal prepares to celebrate Dashain, the country’s biggest Hindu festival, thousands of people are leaving the Kathmandu Valley to return to their hometowns and celebrate with family and relatives.
A total of 130,129 passengers have booked advance bus tickets for Dashain travel, according to figures provided by the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office. The growing demand has increased pressure on public transportation operators, with road conditions and delayed vehicle movements creating additional challenges.
According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Rabindra Khanal of the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, 78,138 passengers left the Valley through various routes in the 24-hour period from Tuesday morning to Wednesday morning.
Since the beginning of Ghatasthapana, the first day of Dashain, a total of 187,774 passengers have departed from the Kathmandu Valley using public transportation.
Passenger Departures Surge Ahead of Dashain
The number of passengers leaving Kathmandu has increased as people working, studying and conducting business in the capital return home for the festival.
Traffic police data show that 52,827 passengers left the Valley on Asoj 25, followed by 56,809 on Asoj 26. Major departure routes include Pharping, Nagdhunga, Thankot, Bhimdhunga, Tinpiple, Sankhu, Jagati in Bhaktapur and Bhatte Danda in Lalitpur.
The annual travel rush brings heavy passenger movement to bus parks, highways and major exit points as families prepare to celebrate Dashain together.
Road Conditions Disrupt Transport Operations
Transport operators have reported difficulties managing vehicles because of damaged roads and delays on major highways.
Rajendra Acharya, treasurer of the National Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs and chairman of Nepal Microbus Company, said poor road conditions have affected vehicle movement and made transportation management more difficult during the festive season.
The disruption was particularly challenging after a section of the Prithvi Highway at Galaundi in Dhading subsided on Asoj 23, the day advance ticket booking opened. The obstruction delayed vehicles and left a number of buses stranded in Kathmandu, affecting the availability and movement of vehicles.
With passenger demand continuing to rise, timely vehicle arrivals and effective transport management remain key concerns for operators.
Advance Ticket Booking Figures
According to the traffic police data cited in the report, advance ticket bookings have progressed as follows:
- Asoj 23: 21,300 passengers
- Asoj 24 and 25 combined: 76,079 passengers
- Asoj 26: 17,197 passengers
- Asoj 27: 15,553 passengers
The reported total stands at 130,129 advance ticket bookings.
Transport Operators Urge Passengers to Travel Safely
The National Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs has urged passengers to purchase tickets before travelling, pay only the prescribed fares and check the condition of vehicles before beginning their journeys.
Authorities and transport operators face the challenge of managing the festive rush while ensuring passenger safety and reducing inconvenience caused by road disruptions.
Dashain is a major annual occasion for family reunions in Nepal. As people return from the capital and other urban centres, the coming days are expected to remain busy for public transport services across the country.
