Fewer crowds seen for Dashain advance ticket purchases (photos)

KATHMANDU: The government has opened advance ticket bookings from Saturday, targeting the upcoming Dashain festival.

This initiative is aimed at people who have come to the federal capital, Kathmandu, from various parts of the country for studies, business, and employment and are now planning to return home to celebrate the festival.

With advance ticket bookings starting five days before Ghatasthapana, passengers had already begun arriving early in the morning at New Bus Park to secure their tickets.

There was a noticeable demand for tickets to destinations in the western regions such as Darchula, Dadeldhura, Dhangadhi, Tikapur, Bajhang, Bajura, Salyan, Rukum, Pyuthan, Rolpa, as well as to eastern areas like Taplejung, Ilam, Kakkarvitta, and Udayapur.

However, unlike previous years, there hasn’t been a large rush this time. It is speculated that the continuous rainfall across the federal capital and the country since Friday may have affected the advance ticket bookings.

Punya Prasad (Saroj) Sitoula, Senior Vice Chair of the umbrella organization of public transport operators, the National Federation of Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs, stated that the relentless rainfall since Friday has disrupted highways nationwide, causing inconvenience to passengers.

He also mentioned that even today, the situation is not favorable for public transport to move smoothly on the highways.

Despite the challenges, Sitaula assured that passengers would be able to secure tickets without much difficulty for their journey home this Dashain.

“It may take some time for public transport to resume movement due to highway disruptions, but no passenger will be left stranded due to a lack of buses,” he added.

While advance ticket booking for long and medium-distance routes has been opened, tickets for short-distance routes will only be available starting from Ghatasthapana.