KATHMANDU: The Department of Transport Management has said advance ticket booking for Dashain will be opened only after assessing weather conditions.
During a discussion with stakeholders in Kathmandu on Monday on public transport management during the festive season, the department said a decision would be made after considering the ongoing disaster situation and the possibility of adverse weather in the coming days.
Department Director General Rajiv Pokharel said long-distance vehicles operating during the festive season would have to undergo strict and actual vehicle fitness tests before being issued route permits, rather than treating the tests as a mere formality.
He said the Home Ministry would assign chief district officers in all 77 districts to monitor traffic congestion, adherence to vehicle departure schedules, and the quality and cleanliness of hotels, eateries and toilets along highways.
Pokharel said the department would write to the Department of Roads through the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure to immediately clear and repair highways affected by floods and landslides, including the BP Highway and roads connecting to Hetauda.
He said it had also been decided to coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to keep petroleum prices stable during the festive season so that transport fares would not increase even if fuel prices rise.
During the discussion, Saroj Sitaula, president of the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs, called for transport fare adjustments and stable fuel prices during the festive season.
While praising the department for adjusting fares for one year, Sitaula urged it to correct some technical errors.
He suggested that the government keep petroleum prices unchanged throughout the festive season from Monday, even if international prices rise, saying the state could bear the losses if necessary.
He also said transport entrepreneurs were ready to introduce online ticketing and technology-based services, but the lack of clear procedures and technical standards from the department had created difficulties.
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