Preparations intensified to operate deluxe metro buses in Kathmandu Valley

Ashok Ghimire / Kathmandu, Jan 12: Long wait at bus stops? Packed bus ride? No place for disabled persons inside? Mobile battery downs during bus ride? The days of such troubles relating to public transportation are coming to an end in the Kathmandu Valley, as the government’s preparation for operation of deluxe metro buses suggests.

In a bid to make the public transportation more reliable and systematic, the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development has intensified preparations to operate large deluxe buses in the Kathmandu Valley.

Minister for Federal Affairs and Local Development, Hitraj Pande, informed that the Ministry has forwarded the process to establish a company with the shares from Kathmandu Metropolis, Lalitpur Sub-Metropolis and Bhaktapur Sub-Metropolis and all other municipalities of the Kathmandu Valley, and the government grants.

He argued that the buses of international standard plying on the roads would help tremendously reduce the hassles and problems on city transportation. The Sajha Yatayat has helped in solving a lot of problems in public transportation. “The days of waiting for buses for long, riding on packed bus and micro-buses will turn to history once the internationally standard buses run in the Kathmandu Valley,” he argued.

The Prime Minister, during the address to the nation from the Legislature-Parliament, on September 15 last year, had announced that the cities including the Kathmandu Valley, Biratnagar, Janakpur, Birgunj, Bharatpur, Butwal, Nepalgunj, Pokhara, Dhangadhi, Surkhet and Ghorahi would have big buses.

Registration of company at final stage

With the coordination of Kathmandu Metropolis, a non-profit company named ‘Valley Metro Transport Ltd’ is being registered. A team comprising officers including from Kathmandu Metropolis and Lalitpur Sub-Metropolis has been directed to register the company within two weeks. The committee has also been assigned responsibility of the operation of company office and personnel management.

Chief of Infrastructure Development Division under the Ministry, Jivan Kumar Shrestha, said with the availability of quality, reliable and luxurious buses, it would be very easy and comfortable for the passengers. The buses would have new routes to reach various touristy places including the International Airport in the Capital City

Similarly, a technical committee has been formed under the coordination of mechanical engineer at Kathmandu Metropolis, Purushottam Shakya, for specification and tender notice.

A fund would be set up with the collection of shares and government grants. The government is to provide Rs 20.5 million grants while the municipalities would generate Rs 10 million with their shares.

Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolis wants to operate 20 buses

Even the municipalities out of the Kathmandu Valley have proposed for operation of city buses. The Ministry had sought proposal from Biratnagar, Butwal, Birgunj, Nepalgunj and Pokhara Sub-Metropolis and Dang municipality for the operation of city buses.

The metro buses will be disabled-friendly, have audio notice board, and display board to inform of different station and about new rules. Similarly, free WiFi and mobile charge system would be other amenities in the buses. The 40-seat bus will be 10.6 meter long, 2.6 meter wide and 3.8 meter high.

The Ministry of Finance has been written to allocate Rs 680 million to materialize this project. Making Ratnapark the centre point, the buses would reach all 22 municipalities in the Kathmandu Valley. RSS