Banking News – As major festivals including Dashain and Tihar approach, the rush of passengers returning home from the Kathmandu Valley has begun to increase. It is estimated that more than eight lakh citizens will leave the valley during the festivals.

SP Naresh Raj Subedi, Spokesperson of the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, informed that as citizens living in the valley have started returning to their permanent homes to celebrate the festivals, activity has increased at Kathmandu’s major bus parks and exit points from the valley.

He said:

“The number of passengers returning home especially for Dashain is gradually increasing. This year, it is estimated that at least more than eight lakh will leave the valley for festivals including Dashain and Tihar.”

According to Punya Prasad Sitaula, President of the National Federation of Nepali Transport Entrepreneurs, as the main festival period approaches, the rush of passengers in public vehicles has begun to increase further. He stated that preparations have been made to operate additional vehicles as needed along with regular services to smoothly transport passengers traveling from the valley to various districts of the country.

Since there will be an excessive rush of passengers during the festivals, relevant agencies have also increased monitoring, prioritizing ticket sales, vehicle conditions, fare rates, and passenger safety. Passengers have been urged to pay the designated fare and purchase tickets from official counters.

The Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police has stated that since vehicle pressure will increase during the festival period, preparations have been made to make traffic management more effective on major roads and exit points from the valley. Traffic Spokesperson Subedi stated that necessary manpower will be mobilized at locations likely to see crowding for the smooth movement of passengers.

Since a large number of citizens will leave the valley during Dashain and Tihar, it has been stated that monitoring will be increased on activities including potential fraud, overcharging, carrying more passengers than capacity, and operating vehicles unsafely in public transport. Relevant agencies have urged passengers returning home during the festivals to arrange tickets in advance, travel after understanding the condition of the vehicle, and exercise caution during the journey.