KATHMANDU: A luggage tagging system is set to be introduced in long-distance public transport vehicles operating from the Kathmandu Valley, aiming to enhance passenger safety and reduce cases of lost or swapped baggage.
The initiative is expected to make public transport more organized while addressing long-standing complaints of missing luggage and mismanagement during travel.
An official agreement was signed on Friday between the Metropolitan Traffic Police Office Kathmandu and the National Transport Entrepreneurs Federation Nepal to implement the system.
The agreement was signed by SSP Nawaraj Adhikari and Federation Chair Saroj Sitaula.
According to the agreement, the system will come into effect from March 29, and will initially be applied to long-distance buses departing from the Valley.
Under the system, passengers will receive a tagged number for their luggage, which must match the tag placed on the baggage stored in the bus. Luggage will only be handed over after verification of the tag number at the destination.
Traffic police said the system is aimed at controlling theft, loss of baggage, and other illegal activities involving public transport.
SSP Adhikari said the initiative is focused on improving passenger security and preventing irregularities in public transportation.
“This system will help prevent luggage theft, loss, and other unwanted activities in public vehicles. It has been introduced through coordination between traffic police and transport entrepreneurs with passenger safety at the center,” he said.
Federation Chair Sitaula said the system will modernize long-distance bus services in a similar way to airline baggage handling systems.
Transport entrepreneurs have long faced complaints of missing luggage, especially during festivals, crowded travel periods, and night journeys.
Authorities also believe the system will help reduce the misuse of public transport for smuggling and illegal goods transportation.
Initially, the system will involve issuing a coded or numbered tag from bus counters, with passengers receiving a matching receipt. Luggage will be released only after the tags match at the destination.
Traffic police have also indicated plans to integrate digital systems in the future, including QR codes and electronic records for better tracking and management.
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