Advance bus ticket booking opened for Dashain festival

The government has opened advance ticket booking for passengers intending to travel home to celebrate Badadashain festival.

The advance booking has started from today to facilitate students and people involved in various professions in the capital to travel to their home districts outside the Kathmandu Valley. With this, the number of people buying bus tickets has significantly increased at Gongabu Buspark.

Nishan Khadka of Dhangadhi from Far-West of the country who studies in a college in the capital city reached the ticket counter at the Buspark early in the morning today to book a ticket. Khadka, who lives in a rented room in Chabahil of Kathmandu reached the Buspark at 5 am to book the bus ticket. Khadka plans to leave for Dhangadhi on October 8. He got the ticket after waiting for two hours in a queue. "It was easier to get a bus ticket this time than the previous year," said Khadka.

Likewise, Ashish Pandey, who is preparing to travel home in Lamki of Kailali, reached the Buspark for buying a ticket at 4 am. Pandey booked a ticket for October 11 for Rs 2,035. He had reached the Buspark from Pepsicola.

Similarly, Tikaram Pokharel reached the New Buspark at 5:30 am to book a ticket to Pyuthan. "This year, it is more systematic than last year. It is much easier to get a ticket this year," he said. He works in a private company based in Nuwakot.

People could be seen eagerly waiting in a queue in front of the counters selling tickets to places like Dhangadhi, Tikapur, Bajhang, Bajura, Salyan, Rukum, Pyuthan and Rolpa in the west and Siraha, Saptari, Udayapur, Jhapa, Ilam and Taplejung in the east.

Last year, the advance ticket booking was not opened due to the high risk of COVID-19. However, this year, the ticket booking has been opened well in time in the run up to the festivals.

Lhotse Multipurpose Pvt Ltd, which is operating the Gongabu Buspark, has set up additional 11 ticket booking counters, in collaboration with the transport entrepreneurs. Lhotse's General Manager Sunil Kunwar said ticket counters have been added for providing tickets to the passengers going home for the Dashain festival in an easy and systematic way.

Passengers were issued hand-written tickets last year but this year both hand-written and e-tickets have been issued. Health safety protocols as social distancing and the like have been followed while issuing the tickets to passengers. Lhotse has mobilised 34 security guards and 40 Nepal Police personnel for preventing any untoward activities in the Buspark area.

Kunwar, the general manager, added that arrangements have been made for keeping the buses in good condition and for compulsorily keeping masks and sanitisers for creating a safe environment for the passengers.

At present, bus tickets are being issued from 32 ticket counters through the computerised system. The bus terminal is spread over 161 ropanis area in Gongabu on the side of the Bishnumati River in Kathmandu Metropolitan City-26. Buses operate from this bus terminus to more than 65 districts throughout the country.