Dashain is over, and the roads into Kathmandu are getting busier. Traffic has built up on the Nagdhunga-Kalanki, Jadibuti-Koteshwor, Jagati and Dakshinkali-Pharping routes. Traffic police have stepped up monitoring and management.
Around 1,000 vehicles a day, including private cars, motorcycles, jeeps and public transport, were reported entering the Valley through the main access points.
How many left
Traffic police recorded 576,578 people leaving the Valley in 79,676 vehicles during the outbound Dashain period. That is the scale of the journey now being made in reverse.
It does not mean all of those people are coming back at once. The return will probably spread over several days as workers, students and business owners get back to their routines.
Are there enough buses?
Congestion is one problem. The other is whether people can get a seat at a fair price. Before the festival, the Department of Transport Management announced several steps:
- extra vehicles on high-demand routes
- permission for long- and medium-distance vehicles to run beyond their usual routes during the festival period
- fare charts to be displayed, with action promised against overcharging
- two drivers required on long-distance vehicles
- passenger help desks run by traffic police at 15 places around the Valley
What travellers can do
- Check road conditions and departure arrangements before a long trip.
- Buy a valid ticket and pay only the fixed fare.
- Avoid vehicles that are carrying more passengers than they are allowed to.
- Allow extra time on routes where congestion has been reported.
Overcharging, ticket problems or unsafe vehicles can be reported to the transport authorities or traffic police.
