The committee made such an announcement after Pokhara Chapter of Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), which could not commence the Pokhara-Chitwan inter-city bus services despite all arrangements, issued ultimatum to PHBEC to either operate tourist bus service itself within three days or let NATTA Pokhara chapter resume the service.[break]
During a meeting between PHBEC and NATTA officials, the former insisted that it will operate direct bus services between the two popular tourist destinations, if tourism entrepreneurs demand. NATTA has agreed to the proposal, and pledged that it will start the service within three days.
According to Om Prakash Pandey, a former president of NATTA, Pokhara chapter, NATTA will operate the service till April 12 and PHBEC will start the service after that.
"If the PHBEC fails to operate luxury bus service within the deadline, we will again resume the service," he stated. "Our concern is comfort of tourists and as long as they (PHBEC) offer international standard service we will not have any problem," he added.
As per the conditions agreed Monday, the PHBEC will have to operate at least one bus every day on Pokhara-Chitwan and Chitwan-Pokhara route. The other conditions include: the bus should not carry passengers beyond seat capacity, the service should be regular irrespective of the number of passengers, and hygiene and treatment of passengers should be good.
A monitoring committee has also been formed to make sure if the committee is operating the bus service properly.
Bharat Malla, member of PHBEC said that they won´t have any problem with the conditions because they already have luxury coaches. He also said PHBEC has around 200 tourist-standard buses.
The committee is planning to modify its 40-seater bus into 35-seater to make it more roomy and comfortable for tourists.
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