Voters Flock to Kathmandu Bus Parks to Return Home for Federal Elections

A surge of people returning to their home districts from the federal capital Kathmandu to cast their votes in the House of Representatives elections is evident today. A dense crowd of passengers can be seen at Kathmandu's bus parks.

Voters who reside in the Kathmandu Valley for employment, study, or various other reasons have started returning to their villages to exercise their right to vote. They are compelled to return today as public transportation will not operate tomorrow.

For this reason, crowds have gathered since early morning at locations including the New Bus Park (Gongabu), Kalanki, Koteshwor, and Balkhu. Passengers have complained that it has become difficult to secure tickets, especially for long-distance vehicles. According to transport entrepreneurs, the number of passengers leaving the valley has increased significantly in the last few days.

Considering the passenger rush, transport business committees have stated they are attempting to arrange additional buses. Nevertheless, due to insufficient vehicles compared to the demand, some passengers are forced to pay exorbitant fares or undertake risky journeys.

Traffic police have also tightened security checks at the entry and exit points of the valley and have established citizen assistance desks at various locations for the convenience of passengers. The Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office has warned that vehicles overloading beyond capacity or charging fares exceeding the stipulated rates will face action.

While the Election Commission is calling on all voters to exercise their franchise without hesitation, enthusiasm is visible among the citizens. As election activities increase in villages, candidates are also engaged in final efforts to woo voters.