KATHMANDU: The Department of Transport Management (DoTM) is preparing to open pre-booking of tickets for upcoming Dashain festival.

The DoTM is holding a meeting with the members of the Nepal National Transport Entrepreneurs Federation (NNTEF), a representative body of transport businessmen, to discuss advance ticket booking.

The DoTM has been issuing tickets in advance every year as the number of people leaving the Kathmandu Valley for their villages will increase during the Dashain festival.

About two million people leave the Kathmandu Valley every year, but last year only 500,000 people bought tickets due to the risk of COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the threat of COVID-19 infection, the number of people leaving Kathmandu for this Dashain this year is expected to double that of last year, said Loknath Bhusal, a spokesman for the DoTM.

“We have summoned the transport entrepreneurs and the Traffic Police Division to the DTM on Thursday to discuss the issue of advance ticket opening,” he said.

NNTEF General Secretary Saroj Sitaula said that the transport entrepreneurs were preparing to open advance tickets with additional fare. He said, “Following discussions with the DoTM, the date for opening the ticket will be fixed.”