Single ticketing counter for long-route vehicles comes into effect

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, June 16:The authorities have decided to strictly utilise the Gongabu-based New Bus Park as the sole terminal and ticket counter for long-route passenger vehicles leaving the Kathmandu Valley from June 16.

The decision came after Thursday's all-party meeting at the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC).

The KMC had been issuing one notice after another for more than a month directing all the ticket counters operated outside the New Bus 

Park to shut down by June 16 and to utilise it as the only terminal for long-route vehicles.

According to the notice, long-route (more than 250 km), medium-route (100 to 250 km) and short-route vehicles (25 to 100 km) leaving the Kathmandu Valley should only leave from the New Bus Park.

Likewise, all the ticket counters operating outside the bus park in places such as Gaushala, Kalanki and Koteshwor among others have also been directed to be closed.

While some public transport operators have reacted positively to the step, some have some reservations.

"The step will definitely help reduce crowding and hassle in other parts of the city. However, restricting people from boarding a vehicle from their nearby location along the main route and forcing them to reach the New Bus Park to buy a ticket would affect the passengers," said Deknath Gautam, general secretary at the Federation of Nepalis National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE).

Talking to The Rising Nepal before attending the all-party meeting at the KMC, Gautam said, "These demands will be tabled at the meeting and the federation will advocate for the ease of passengers and transport operators by managing the transport sector effectively."

While Gautam could not be reached by phone after the meeting, KMC's information officer Basanta Acharya said, "The all-party meeting has decided to use the New Bus Park as the sole terminal and ticket counter for vehicles leaving the Kathmandu Valley."

But Gautam said that the ticket system for all the buses leaving the Valley was being managed physically as well as digitally through the bus park as they were being prepared.

"However, the authorities should allow alternate or assistant ticket counters in crucial places because it can be difficult for some people to reach the bus park for ticketing alone and many no idea how to buy the tickets online," said Gautam.

Jibraj Dahal, a ticket counter operator in Koteshwor, informed that the counters were not being emptied until Thursday evening.

"A meeting was said to be underway at the KMC. We have decided to follow the decision of our representatives," said Dahal.

Meanwhile, the traffic police informed that the step would help them manage traffic more efficiently as the vehicles leaving the Valley would not be allowed to stop wherever they want.

"The vehicles, mostly HiAce and jeeps, entering Kathmandu via Bhaktapur will be entering the New Bus Park via the Tinkune-Gaushala-Maharajgunj route," said 

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rajendra Prasad Bhatta, spokesperson for the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division.

Similarly, the vehicles leaving for Dhulikhel, Banepa and 

Sankhu have been prohibited from stopping in any area between Kalanki and Jadibuti.

Netizens have also been questioning whether they had to reach the bus park as passenger kilometres away even if the vehicle was coming via the same route.  

The authorities could not provide a concrete answer to whether the vehicles will be allowed to pick up and drop off passengers from certain destinations along the same route that the vehicles use.

According to Acharya, the KMC is keen to coordinate with the transport operators to make ticketing and bus boarding more convenient in the days ahead.