EV Transport In Lumbini

Lumbini has now become more accessible for both domestic as well as international travellers following the operation of the Gautam Buddha International Airport (GIBA). Some international carriers have been operating their regular flights to and from Lumbini with the opening of this new airport in mid-May this year. Jazeera Air, a Kuwaiti airline, currently flies daily between Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Lumbini. The operation of this airport has facilitated Nepalis, including migrant workers and foreign tourists to travel. Being the birthplace of Lord Buddha, Lumbini has been an attractive tourist destination having a lot of archaeological, religious and cultural significance. Before the outbreak of COVID-19, this part of the nation used to welcome hundreds of thousands of international and domestic tourists annually. As the pandemic has now been receding substantially in Nepal and most other parts of the world, more international airlines are expected to begin operating their services to Lumbini in the days ahead.  

It is worth mentioning that visitors now can use electric vehicles as an additional facility. Five electric buses that were made available to the Lumbini Development Trust (LDT) by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) three years ago have now come into operation. The buses had remained unused, gathering dust, until (Tuesday) September 27 when Minister for Home Affairs Bal Krishna Khand issued an instruction to the responsible authorities to start the operation of those vehicles at the earliest possible. The local administration, the LDT and tourism stakeholders held a meeting, the other day, following Minister Khand’s directives. He was in Bhairahawa to address a tourism-related event that was organised to mark the World Tourism Day-2022.

The ADB had given those emission-free vehicles to the LDT to help serve tourists visiting Lumbini. With the operation of these vehicles, travellers may find it more comfortable to travel in Lumbini and its vicinity areas. According to the LDT, the buses will be in operation on the Belahiya-Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA)-Lumbini, Ramgram-Belahiya-Lumbini, Butwal-Bhairahawa-Lumbini and Lumbini-Tilaurakot routes till the upcoming Tihar festival. Travellers do not need to pay any charge for using this extra facility. This incentive could attract more tourists into Lumbini during this festival season. The LDT is to manage drivers from the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and Nepali Army. There has been a growing trend among Nepalis to travel during festivals. With the start of the autumn season, Lumbini as well as other tourist destinations in Nepal have begun hosting domestic and foreign tourists. 

It needs no mention that Lumbini has attracted a huge investment in the hospitality services, including hotels and resorts, since the commencement of the construction of GBIA in 2015. However, the airport project could not be completed on time because of various reasons. Meanwhile, the LDT is planning to bring 14 vans given by the ADB into trial service from Saturday. As per its plan, these vehicles will be on the road for five days during the Dashain festival to test their equipment and charging stations. Though the authorities have yet to get the required number plates for the vans, they have decided to operate them for the convenience of passengers during the festivals. The multinational donor has given these vehicles worth Rs. 120 million to facilitate tourists arriving at GBIA to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site without causing damage to the environment.  The GBIA has been built with loan assistance of the ADB.