The Sajha Yatayat on Monday started a new route between Bungamati, a Newar village on the south of Lalitpur district, and Budhanilkantha, taking the number of routes to six.

The launching of the new bus route came a day after the Lalitpur Metropolis handed Rs10 million to the Sajha Yatayat.

Speaking at the handover ceremony on Sunday LMC Mayor Chiribabu Maharjan said providing easy and comfortable transportation facility and traffic management was one his poll promises. “That’s why the LMC is joining hands with Sajha,” said Maharjan.

After the bus operation of the bus, it is believed that, residence of Lalitpur will be benefited to enjoy better transportation facilities. “This is a step in the right direction as the people of the metropolitan city have been deprived of easy transportation facilities,” said Gita Satyal, deputy mayor of the LMC. In June, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City had provided Rs50 million to Sajha Yatayat.

The Sajha is using the funds to add 20 new buses, including disable-friendly one, in the Valley. 

Satyal added that the LMC was working to extend a regular bus service between Godabari and Budhanilkantha.

The cooperative is running 44 buses on various routes in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur and Kavre districts.

Mahendra Raj Pandey, the cooperative’s acting chief executive, said Sajha buses will operate on their routes inside the Valley even during the Bijaya Dashami.