Public transport services for Dhading, Nuwakot, and Rasuwa relocated to New Bus Park

Kathmandu. Public transport vehicles operating to and from Dhading, Nuwakot, and Rasuwa have begun operations from within the New Bus Park. Previously, these buses were parked and operated from the roadsides around Machhapokhari and Balaju.

A meeting of stakeholders held last Tuesday at the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, chaired by Acting Mayor Sunita Dangol, decided that all public transport vehicles within Kathmandu must operate from the New Bus Park in Gongabu.

Following the decision to mandate the use of the New Bus Park within three days, buses serving Dhading, Nuwakot, and Rasuwa started operating from the facility this morning.

The Metropolitan City launched the New Bus Park in 2056 BS to organize and manage public transport entering the Kathmandu Valley. While most long-distance vehicles already used the terminal, those serving Nuwakot, Rasuwa, and Dhading had been using counters and parking areas in the Machhapokhari region.

Although the national bus park covers 161 ropanis in Gongabu, Kathmandu Metropolitan City-26, vehicles for these three districts were operating from the streets of Machhapokhari and Balaju. Buses and microbuses traveling along the Prithvi Highway, which previously operated from the road between Gongabu Chowk and the New Bus Park, have now moved inside the terminal.

Drivers had previously resisted moving into the terminal. Spokesperson for the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, Superintendent of Police Naresh Raj Subedi, stated that unauthorized roadside parking had caused significant traffic management issues in the valley.

SP Subedi noted that long-distance vehicles traveling via the Ring Road hindered traffic flow, and the implementation of the Metropolitan City's decision is expected to reduce congestion around the Ring Road.

Pankaj Malla, Human Resources Chief of Lhotse Multipurpose Pvt. Ltd., which operates the New Bus Park, stated that a dedicated track and separate ticket counters have been arranged for vehicles serving Dhading, Rasuwa, and Nuwakot.

According to the Transport Office, there are approximately 2 million vehicles operating in the Kathmandu Valley. With the rising number of private and public vehicles and limited road expansion, traffic management has become an increasing challenge.