Advance Public Transport Ticket Booking to Open from Ashwin 23 Ahead of Dashain, Tihar

Advance ticket booking for public transport services will open from Ashwin 23 ahead of the upcoming Dashain, Tihar, and Chhath festivals.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting of stakeholders held at the Department of Transport Management (DoTM) on Tuesday to facilitate passengers traveling out of Kathmandu Valley during the festive season.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs, transport workers’ organizations, Nepal Police, traffic police, and Lhotse Multipurpose Pvt. Ltd., the operator of New Bus Park.

According to Dipak KC, president of the All Nepal Transport Workers’ Organization, the stakeholders agreed to open advance ticket booking from Ashwin 23 following discussions organized by the Department of Transport Management.

More than one million passengers are expected to leave Kathmandu Valley during this year’s Dashain period.

The decision to open advance booking is expected to ease uncertainty among passengers, particularly as advance booking had not yet been formally opened while only a limited number of transport companies had been accepting online bookings.

The authorities have also agreed on a number of measures aimed at ensuring passenger safety, improving services and managing transportation during the festive rush.

Under the decisions, long-distance public vehicles will be required to have two drivers to reduce the risks associated with driver fatigue during extended journeys.

Employees working at ticket counters will also be required to wear uniforms and identification cards. Transport operators must record the name and contact number of passengers while issuing tickets.

The Department of Transport Management has warned of strict legal action against anyone found charging fares above the prescribed rates, engaging in black marketing or committing irregularities in ticket sales during the festive season.

The government, transport entrepreneurs and security agencies will coordinate to ensure a transparent and orderly ticketing system.

A central information centre will also be brought into operation to facilitate the immediate exchange of information regarding road blockages, accidents and other incidents affecting passenger travel.

The meeting further decided that all passenger vehicles must carry essential safety and passenger-service facilities, including first-aid supplies, fire extinguishers and drinking water.

Authorities have also emphasized the need for effective mobilization of security personnel at bus parks and ticket counters to manage heavy passenger crowds and prevent travelers from facing difficulties due to ticket shortages.

Stakeholders have expressed their commitment to ensuring that transportation services remain safe, orderly, and well-managed throughout the Dashain–Tihar festive period, when passenger movement across the country is expected to increase significantly.