Advance bus ticket booking for Dashain travel opened Friday, with passengers queuing overnight at Kathmandu's New Bus Park to secure seats for journeys to their home districts before Nepal's biggest Hindu festival.
Passengers began gathering outside ticket counters at around 9 p.m. Thursday, said Pankaj Malla, general manager of Lhotse Multipurpose Company, which operates New Bus Park. Travelers heading to districts including Bajhang, Bajura and Dhangadhi were among those waiting in line.
To manage the rush, the company has added 15 ticket counters.
The Department of Transport Management, Nepal Police, transport entrepreneurs and workers agreed at a meeting earlier this week to begin advance bookings on October 9.
Authorities have announced several arrangements for the festival period. Vehicles will be allowed to operate nationwide without the usual route-permit restrictions from October 11 to 25. Long-distance vehicles are to have two drivers to improve road safety. Officials have warned that ticketing irregularities and overcharging could lead to legal action.
Large numbers of people leave Kathmandu Valley for Dashain each year. In around a typical year, around 2 million people leave valley.
Officials have said transport authorities and security agencies will coordinate to manage passenger movement and address problems during the busy travel season. Passengers should check ticket availability, fares and departure times with authorized operators, since these may vary by destination and date.
