KATHMANDU: Almost twice as many passengers have left Kathmandu Valley this year compared to last year.

Since mid-September, about 1.7 million residents have left Kathmandu Valley to celebrate the Dashain festival.

In the past two years, the number of people going out of Kathmandu Valley to celebrate Dashain was less due to Covid-19.

Bijay Swar, President of the National Transport Entrepreneurs Association of Nepal, said that the majority of people going to districts outside the Valley are using public transport.

So far, around 1.7 lakh people have left the Valley and it is estimated that another two lakhs will leave the Valley by the day of Bijaya Dashami (Wednesday).

Like the previous years, this year too, passengers are facing problems such as charging more than the specified fare, among others.