Government Reverses Decision on 'Blue Bus' Color

Kathmandu. Although the government had prepared to operate the 'Blue Bus' service through Sajha Yatayat for the safe travel of women, the service is likely to be delayed in its start. The service, which the government intended to start from the first day of the fiscal year 2083/084, i.e., from Shrawan 1, is facing delays due to insufficient preparation. Although it was proposed to repaint the green buses of Sajha Yatayat to operate as 'Blue Buses', the government has reversed its decision to paint them blue following widespread criticism.

There has been extensive protest on social media regarding the repainting of Sajha's green buses to blue. Sajha Yatayat has stated that the rumors about repainting green buses to blue are not true.

Bhoopendra Aryal, Chief Executive Officer of Sajha Yatayat, said that most of the pictures of blue buses circulated on social media were generated using artificial intelligence (AI) to create buzz. He clarified that the government has no plan to change the color of Sajha buses for the operation of 'Blue Buses'. He said, 'Sajha has its own unique brand. There is no plan to change it and repaint the buses. Discussions are underway to use stickers or other visual signs on the buses to identify them as a separate service for women.'

Aryal stated that since Sajha, with its 64-year history, has its own brand and color, the plan is to indicate 'Blue Bus' symbolically by writing it or using some blue color without altering its identity. Sajha has mentioned that repainting the buses multiple times would send a negative message to the public.

Aryal clarified that the 'Blue Bus' name only signifies the service concept, and there is no plan to change the bus color. While stickers, banners, or other visual means might be used to easily identify the women-friendly service, the government has no plan to repaint the green buses blue.

According to Aryal, although the government discussed operating free 'Blue Buses' for women in Kathmandu from Shrawan 1, the service cannot start immediately without budget and procedural certainty. He clarified that there is no possibility of the bus service starting on Shrawan 1 itself.

According to Aryal, there has been no official agreement between Sajha Yatayat and the government yet. He stated that the service will commence only after an agreement is reached. 'The budget is yet to be secured and the procedures are yet to be formulated. The service will not operate until the operational costs are received and official letters are issued,' Aryal said. 'If we provide service for two months and have to stop it in the third month due to lack of budget, it will damage the institution's 64-year-old reputation. Therefore, before starting the service, we will proceed only after reaching an agreement with the government for its continuity.'

The government had planned to launch eight electric buses with a capacity of 26 seats each from Sajha for women free of charge from Shrawan 1, but due to insufficient preparation, the operation time and the final number of buses have not yet been finalized, he said.

Budget and Sustainability Challenges

Sajha demands that the government provide operational costs for the free service. The preliminary estimate for operating electric buses is around 10,000 to 12,000 rupees per day, and for diesel buses, it is 15,000 to 16,000 rupees.

According to the preliminary plan, two electric buses will be operated on the Budhanilkantha-Lagankhel-Godawari route, two on the Nagdhunga-Airport route, and four on the Ring Road in the valley. Of the four buses running on the Ring Road, two will be operated on the Koteshwor-Gaushala-Kalanki route and the other two on the Koteshwor-Satdobato-Kalanki route.

'Blue Bus' service was included in the 100-point agenda for governance reform published by the government on Chaitra 13, 2082.

As per that agenda, the target is to operate at least 25 buses within the first 100 days in the first phase. While presenting the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, the Finance Minister had announced that 'Blue Bus' service with CCTV cameras would be operated for women.