Advance car ticket booking for Dasain in confusion

Some transport businessmen committee has already opened advance booking. Last year, advance booking was opened 6 days before Ghatasthapana. For that, a decision was made after prior discussion between the businessmen and the Department of Transportation. Businessmen say that they are not in a hurry to discuss this because of time.

East Arnico Transport Pvt Ltd has opened advance booking from 20 August. Kedar Chhetri, former president of Arnico Transport Pvt. Ltd., said that bookings have been opened for passengers going to the districts where Arnico Transport operates. "Now there is no online facility, passengers are booking in advance by reaching the counter," he said. This does not matter to those who have their means. Therefore, we have already opened the booking to avoid any problem for the passengers.'

Transport business related organizations have also expressed interest in opening advance bookings. Vijay Swaran, President of the National Federation of Nepal Transport Professionals, said that all the roads damaged by the drought should be repaired first and made easy. "Last year, advance booking was opened a week ago, this time we are in favor of opening it a little sooner," he said, "but this has not been discussed with the government agencies yet."

Swaran says that the road is damaged due to landslides and potholes. "There will be a problem if passengers cannot reach their destination on time due to road damage during the festival," he said. "Government should make all the roads smooth before the festival." Last year, the businessmen had raised the issue of rent adjustment in the run-up to the festival. The department claims that even now they are taking the stance that they should adjust the rent.

'The businessmen have been raising the issue of fare adjustment, so far it has not been implemented,' the department source said, 'This time, the businessmen are in the mood to open bookings only by increasing the fares.' He says that it has not been discussed yet.

"The businessmen have been raising the issue of fare adjustment and road problems," Rizal said, "A decision will be taken to open advance bookings only after discussion with the businessmen." Now the roads are damaged everywhere. Most of the roads have potholes. Currently, most of the problems are in the Nagadhunga to Muglin and Muglin to Pokhara sections where the upgrading has started. Similarly, there is a lot of problem in Narayangadh-Butwal road which is under expansion, due to which vehicle travel has become dangerous.

During the festival, the same vehicle has to be driven over and over again. During the festival, up to 200,000 passengers leave in a day. The demand of the businessmen is to create an environment where vehicles reach their destination on time and come back to Kathmandu. During Dasain, about two million passengers leave the valley alone. "The decision will be made after discussion between the department and businessmen, there is time for that, the discussion will start from the first week of October," Director General Rizal said, "it will not be too late to make a decision."

Ramhari Pokharel, director general of the road department, said that the road repair work has been started targeting the festival due to less rain. "On the road under construction, the related construction professionals and others have been directed to the planning and road division office to make the road without potholes to repair it," he said. Before that, we will make the road smooth by October 10.

He claims that equipment and technicians have been deployed to remove landslides on the roads that are prone to landslides. He said, "We keep the staff in rotation on the roads with such risks even on the festival day," he said.