Chief Secretary Lilamani Poudel inaugurated the service amid a function held in the capital. [break]Poudel paid Rs 15 in bus fare to Haribansha Acharya and Madan Krishna Shrestha, renowned actors, who were acting as conductors of the bus during its maiden ride.
Addressing the ceremony, he said that he expected the service to establish a benchmark in the public transport sector. He hoped that the cooperative would be able to expand into a nationwide network.
Acharya said that Sajha´s condition is just like that of the nation. The duo urges the political parties for not to call strike program in the future. "I urge all not to give votes to the parties whose cadres vandalize Sajha buses," said Shrestha.
Chief Secretary Lilamani Poudel inaugurates Sajha Yatayat. (Photo: Bijay Rai)
Kanak Mani Dixit, chairman of the cooperative, said that the organization is devoted to ease the travel of commuters. He vowed to make the service friendly for disabled, women and senior citizens in near future.
The cooperative has recruited six female conductors hoping that the female conductors would treat passengers properly.
"All conductors are at least SLC graduates. Educated conductors understand how to better treat passengers," Mahendra Raj Pandey, manager of the cooperative said. The cooperative has brought 16 advanced buses built by the Indian motor company, TATA. The 55 seated buses are all of Euro-3 standards, the cooperative claimed.
Pandey claimed that passengers would not have to worry about paying excessive fares as the buses will charge fares fixed by the government.
The passengers will also be issued ticket for their journey in the buses. At present, buses and micro buses operating in the capital do not provide tickets to passengers and charge arbitrarily. The passengers will also have the option of buying transit ticket if they have to change buses to reach their destinations.
The new buses are equipped with two close circuit cameras for passengers´ safety and LCD televisions that would provide both information and entertainment to passengers.
The buses will initially operate along Kalanki, Kalimati, Tripureshwor, Nayabaneshwor, Sinamangal and Airport. Likewise, some buses will operate along Satdobato, Jawalakhel, Tripureshwor, Jamal, Teaching Hospital and Naya Bus Park.
Noted actors Madan Krishna Shrestha and Haribansa Acharya collect bus fare. (Photo: Bijay Rai)
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