Dashain is 12 days away, but advance ticket bookings have yet to open. In previous years, bookings would normally have begun by now, as around 2 million people typically leave the Kathmandu Valley for the festival. This year, however, floods have washed away roads and bridges along key routes, leaving transport operators uncertain about when travel can return to normal.

Kantipur’s Bimal Khatiwada spoke to Punya Prasad Sitaula (Saroj), chairman of the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs, about preparations for the Dashain travel rush, road conditions and when bookings are likely to open.

Dashain is approaching. How are transport operators preparing?

The federation has been holding internal discussions with all relevant agencies ahead of the festival. We presented our concerns to the House of Representatives’ Infrastructure Development Committee on Monday and to a subcommittee under the committee on Tuesday.

Road conditions are currently poor across much of the country, with many routes not suitable for smooth travel. We have asked the government to improve the roads ahead of Dashain, as many routes remain risky and need to be made safer for passengers. The government also needs to create conditions for vehicles to operate without unnecessary disruption.

Passenger vehicles should be given priority so they can carry people safely to their destinations during the festival. The situation is extremely difficult at present, and we expect support and cooperation from all sides.

Advance ticket bookings usually signal that Dashain travel has begun. When do you expect bookings to open this year?

We understand that the Department of Transport Management will soon meet with relevant stakeholders and decide when to open bookings.

But the roads and bridges need to be ready first. We expect the Dashain travel season to pick up over the next few days. Given the scale of the disasters and the current state of the infrastructure, however, it is difficult to say exactly when bookings will open.

Thousands of people usually leave the Valley during Dashain. Will there be enough buses to meet demand?

This year, we face problems with both vehicles and roads. The transport department stopped registering public vehicles for a long period, so not enough new vehicles entered the system.

Normally, 200 to 400 new vehicles would be added around this time. We will have to see how many are added this year.

The department is therefore expected to allow route permits for passenger buses so they can operate across the country during Dashain. This would allow vehicles currently operating in the Kathmandu Valley to carry passengers to different parts of the country.

I would also urge all transport entrepreneurs to service and prepare their vehicles for the festival. They need to be ready not only to take passengers to their destinations but also to bring them back.

At this point, selling tickets is not the main concern. The priority is ensuring passengers travel safely.

Passengers often complain about being charged higher fares during Dashain. Why does this happen?

The government should not raise fuel prices during the festival period, even though prices have risen in India. Vehicle owners and drivers therefore should not charge passengers higher fares during Dashain.

No one should charge more than the officially approved fare. Passengers also need to be careful about where they buy their tickets. They should use only designated counters and buy from staff wearing identification badges, rather than from unauthorised sellers simply to save time.

Passenger assistance desks will soon be set up at 13 locations across the Kathmandu Valley. The transport department will display fare lists for different destinations at these desks, so passengers can check the fare before buying a ticket.

If passengers face any problems or are overcharged or cheated, they should report it to the police or officials stationed at the assistance desks.

So, when will bookings open?

Preparations are underway. The transport department will decide after consulting relevant stakeholders, based on road conditions.

During Dashain, large numbers of passengers leave the Valley, so buses largely operate one way and often return with few or no passengers.

In normal years, around 2 million people leave the Valley during the festival. This year, however, floods and landslides have damaged roads and bridges. The Bhotekoshi floods caused major loss of life in Rasuwa and Nuwakot, while recent heavy rains have caused further deaths and damaged transport infrastructure.

We therefore estimate that around 1.6 million passengers will leave the Valley this Dashain.