City Metro Yatayat Pvt Ltd launched a fleet of 13 disabled-friendly buses at a function in Kathmandu on Friday. 

Each bus, built by the Tata Group of India, comes with  43 seats, space to accommodate two wheelchair-bound passengers, and wheelchair-accessible door. 

City Metro, which already operates passenger microbus service until now, decided to branch out its business to proper buses after the government decided to phase out the public vehicles that have been in operation for more than 20 years, said Hemendra Serchan, the company chairman.  

“Most of the microbuses that the company is operating will no longer be fit to ply the streets, so we had to come up with a new idea. Our wish is to build our brand in public transportation,” Serchan said. 

The City Metro buses will cover the routes, including Banasthali, Narayangopal Chowk, Baluwatar, Putalisadak, Maitighar, Naya Baneshwor, Koteshwor, Pepsikola and Kanda Ghari. 

“We will soon start GPS tracking facility in our buses that will allow people to know how far or close to them a City Metro bus is through their mobile phones,” Serchan said.

City Metro is the first private transportation company to start disabled-friendly bus service in Kathmandu. 

Sajha Yatayat Co-operative Ltd had introduced 30 disabled-friendly buses in Kathmandu Valley in November, 2016.