Crowds gather at new bus park for advance Dasain tickets

Advance booking for Dasain bus tickets opened today, Friday, Asoj 23. Even before tickets went on sale, passengers had lined up at Kathmandu's New Bus Park in Gongabu from Thursday night.

Pankaj Malla, general manager of Lhotse Multipurpose Pvt. Ltd., which operates the New Bus Park, said passengers began lining up from 9 pm Thursday. According to him, passengers heading to Bajhang, Bajura and Dhangadhi had arrived at night itself for tickets. The company has opened 15 additional ticket counters at the bus park.

The decision to open advance booking was made at a meeting on Tuesday, Asoj 20, among the Department of Transport Management, Nepal Police, and transport entrepreneurs and workers. The department has urged passengers to book tickets through an online app instead of standing in line at the bus park.

Online ticket service provider Bus Sewa said it had opened advance booking from Thursday itself. Through its app or website, passengers can choose their destination, travel date, bus and seat from home. The company said passengers booking in advance through it can get discounts of up to about Rs 100.

According to operators, passenger numbers have been rising in recent days, especially on long-distance buses. With advance booking open, passenger traffic heading home is expected to increase further during the main Dasain period. As Dasain approaches, traffic and congestion have also increased on Kathmandu's main roads and intersections.