After numerous failed attempts, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, in coordination with the Department of Transport Management, is once again planning to operate night buses in Kathmandu, targeting the upcoming Visit Nepal 2020 campaign. However, town planners and regular commuters are not convinced by the metropolis’ plan.

Previously, on June 10, the City and the department said they planned to start bus services after 8:30 pm, to which half a dozen private bus companies had agreed. The very day, the department had raised bus fares by 20 percent without holding any proper discussion with the stakeholders. But the next day, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport ordered a standstill on bus fares, and the plan to start night bus services could not materialise.

“We admit that we could not operate night buses in the past. But Visit Nepal 2020 is right around the corner, so we will soon be providing night bus services,” said Ishwor Man Dangol, spokesperson at the City. “The City is consulting with the concerned stakeholders to make the services sustainable, and it has formed a separate committee for the purpose.”

Urban planner Suman Maher Shrestha, however, is not convinced with Dangol's ideas.

“If it’s for the Visit Nepal 2020 campaign, the government authority could start round the clock inexpensive bus services from Tribhuvan International Airport to Central Business District,” said Shrestha.

The City, in its official gazette issued on April 12, had directed public transport operators to run vehicles from 5 am to 9 pm between October 18 to February 12, and 5 am to 10 pm between February 13 to October 17. But the order has not been implemented. After 8 pm, it’s hard for commuters to find public vehicles and the roads get virtually empty.

The City in 2012 operated some 16 buses after 8 pm, but due to a lack of coordination and proper planning, the service couldn’t last more than six months. The City at the time had allocated Rs2.5 million while the Ministry of Finance had allocated Rs2 million for the project.

"The service discontinued because the country lacks policies. If the government operates night buses and gives assurances of security, people will go out at night, as they are busy during day time," said Kishore Thapa, another urban planner and former government secretary. "If only the government makes policies to operate public buses around Thamel, cinema halls, major shopping complexes and hospitals round the clock, it would help increase public flow during the night."

When the Post contacted Gogan Bahadur Hamal, director general at the Transport Management, to ask how the public night bus plan is going to materialise, he said the department will coordinate with the City to make the plan a success.

Urban planners say if the government regulates night mobility and businesses, it could open up new job opportunities for people and give a boost to the local economy.