Express bus service comes into operation

The express bus service has come into operation from Ratnapark of Kathmandu to Suryabinayak of Bhaktapur from today.

The service is operated in collaboration with the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport and the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs.

Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Prakash Jwala inaugurated the bus service from Shantibatika, Ratnapark. A dedicated lane has been managed for operating the bus service on the 13.4 kilometers long route.

The buses will operate from 9 am to 11 am and from 4pm to 6 pm from Thursday. The government said the express bus service has been brought into operation to improve the public transport sector in Kathmandu Valley.

Twenty-five buses with 40 seats have been allocated for the set time, said Uddhav Rijal, Director General, the Department of Transport Management.

It takes around two hours to travel from Suryabinayak to Ratnapark by public transport during office hours at present. The express bus service will reduce this travel time to 45 minutes.

There will be bus stops at 19 different locations including Ratnapark, Maitighar, Babarmahal, New Baneshwor, Shantinagar, Koteshwor, Jadibuti, Kaushaltar, Gaththaghar, Chardobato and Suryabinayak.

The government on March 14, 2023 decided to operate the bus service in Kathmandu Valley in a bid to manage the public transport. The buses will run in a gap of one kilometer during the office time.

"The government has started this service to convince people that one can reach their destination in the given time using public transport. This is only the beginning," Director General Rijal said, adding that a separate lane has been managed for the buses to be operated for this service and the lane has been painted red. No other vehicles can use this lane during the office time.

Inaugurating the bus service, Minister Jwala said the express bus service has been operated on this route during office time in the first phase to make the public transport in the urban area systematic and to convince the people about the public transport.

"The government's campaign will not be limited to this only. We will improve upon and expand it. Express bus service will be expanded to areas including the airport, Ring Road, Balaju, Maharajgunj, Thankot and Lalitpur, among other places," he added.

Bagmati Province Government Minister for Labour, Employment and Transport, Laxman Lamsal stressed on the need of increasing people's trust towards public transport.

Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Keshav Kumar Sharma maintained that the express bus service has been operated as an effort for making the Valley's public transport system well-managed.

Acting Inspector General of Police Deepak Thapa underscored on making the general public aware of improving the public transport. He added that the police are committed to the safety of the vehicles operated on the dedicated lane.