Collaboration of 9 Local Governments in Kathmandu Valley: 30 Night Buses to Operate on 6 Routes
Under the leadership of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, 9 local governments in collaboration with Sajha Yatayat have launched 30 night buses on 6 routes in the Kathmandu Valley. Starting from Constitution Day, this service aims to provide convenient, safe, and reliable transportation for the general public, businesses, workers, patients, and tourists traveling at night.
9 local governments in the Kathmandu Valley have expanded night bus services through collaboration. Under the leadership of Kathmandu Metropolitan City and in collaboration with Sajha Yatayat, 30 buses on 6 routes have been brought into operation starting from Constitution Day.
Earlier, the night transport service, which was started on a trial basis from Baisakh 1, has been expanded, and local governments have joined the joint program to bear responsibilities as needed. On Constitution Day, the heads of local governments signed a memorandum of understanding with Sajha Yatayat.
The local governments that signed are:
- Kathmandu Metropolitan City
- Lalitpur Metropolitan City
- Budhanilkantha Municipality
- Godawari Municipality
- Chandragiri Municipality
- Kirtipur Municipality
- Bhaktapur Municipality
- Suryabinayak Municipality
- Madhyapur Thimi Municipality
On behalf of Sajha Yatayat, Chairman Sushil Raj Pyakurel signed the agreement.
Under the service, buses will operate on routes: Jagati–Suryabinayak–Thamel, Lagankhel–Godawari–Budhanilkantha, Ring Road, Kirtipur–Jamal, Thakhel–Thamel, and Nagdhunga–Airport. Previously, a trial service was operated on the Lagankhel–Budhanilkantha and Nagdhunga–Airport routes with 7 buses from 8 PM to 11 PM.
Under the expanded service:
- 6 buses from Jagati to Thamel via Suryabinayak
- 6 buses from Lagankhel to Godawari via Budhanilkantha (extending the previous route)
- 8 buses on the Ring Road in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions
- 4 buses on Kirtipur–Jamal
- 2 buses on Thakhel–Thamel
- 4 buses on the previous Nagdhunga–Airport route
Based on the impact assessment, evaluation, and cost-benefit analysis of the service, it was concluded that service is more important than profit or loss. If the ticket revenue from passengers cannot cover the cost of operating night buses, it has been agreed that 50 percent of the shortfall will be borne equally by the 7 municipalities, and the remaining 50 percent will be borne based on the population of the respective municipalities: Kathmandu Metropolitan City 18.55 percent, Lalitpur Metropolitan City 18.55 percent, and the other 7 municipalities 9 percent each. The agreement states that if the cost of operating the service is insufficient, Sajha Yatayat will request funds on a quarterly basis.
It is stated that the maximum fare for traveling on the Ring Road with bus changes will be 80 rupees. The service is expected to provide convenient and safe public transportation for the general public traveling at night to hospitals, airports, markets, and other essential places.