Buses to be dispatched from Kathmandu to reach Narayanghat during daylight

KATHMANDU, Oct 2: Transportation will be managed to ensure that vehicles departing from Kathmandu reach Narayanghat during daylight.

A meeting of the stakeholders held on Tuesday, chaired by Rajib Pokhrel, director general of the Department of Transport Management (DoTM), decided on 10 points, including requesting transport operators to manage their schedules so that vehicles can reach Narayanghat during daylight after considering the circumstances once they depart and ensuring that security agencies facilitate transportation management accordingly.

The discussion included participation from the police, transport workers, and transport operators. The meeting also decided to request transport operators to carry essential first aid supplies, drinking water, and food items suitable for consumption in emergency situations on public vehicles operating on medium and long distances, according to Saroj Sitaula, senior vice president of the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE).

A statement issued after the meeting expressed condolences to the passengers and transport workers who lost their lives in the floods and landslides. It was decided to collect details about the transport workers who lost their lives in the recent disaster and the extent of damage to the affected vehicles, and to request the relevant authorities for necessary compensation.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has been requested to provide immediate rescue and relief for transport workers and operators stranded in the middle of the roads due to landslides or floods. It has also been advised to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary to reduce accidents and risks arising from adverse conditions, and to exercise caution and vigilance if travel is required.

The Nepal Police Headquarters will regularly share necessary information regarding disaster management and road conditions on its Facebook page. Priority will be given to those who have already purchased advance tickets to ensure they reach their destinations. Additionally, transport operators have been requested to base their advance ticket bookings on the Ministry of Home Affairs' disaster-related information and to check road conditions before issuing advance tickets for specific routes.

FNNTE Senior Vice President Sitaula said that it was also decided to identify alternative routes for the operation of large and small vehicles, selecting priority roads. Additionally, information regarding alternative routes will be made available on the DoTM’s website.

It was also decided to request the Department of Roads to place heavy equipment on road sections categorized as ‘red zones’ due to excessive rainfall. Furthermore, local authorities were asked to utilize their heavy equipment to clear blocked roads and assist with necessary rescue operations as a result of the rainfall.