Public transport resume from today

Kathmandu: Public transports, which were suspended for around four months have resumed from today.

On March 24 the government had paused the operation of public transport for corona prevention. However, with the ease of lockdown from mid-June, the government allowed public transport to move.

The transport owners, however, were not ready to move their vehicles as they needed to repair the vehicles which were idle for a long time. Also, the entrepreneurs had been demanding the government to provide relief.

After the relief demand went unaddressed, the owners have started the operation in the capital city. Transport companies including Sundar Yatayat, Mayur Transport, Sanyukta Yatayat and Mahanagar Yatayat had already started operating. Similarly, Sajha Yatayat started operation from today.

 

According to Mohan Bahadur Shrestha, chairman of Mayur Yatayat, they have started the operation following the guidelines of WHO. He said that they have also kept sanitizer and provide a mask to the passengers who enter without a mask.

The government has allowed public transport to operate vehicles with a limit of 50 percent seat capacity. They can charge up to 50 percent above the normal fare rates.

However, Bhesh Bahadur Thapa, chairman of Sundar Yatayat said that they have been charging the same old rate for the passengers. The company has been providing service with its four buses in two different routes; Suryabinayak-Chakrapath and Ringroad. Thapa said that they have been implementing strict social distancing rules and health guidelines for the prevention of corona infection.

Similarly, Sajha Yatayat has also resumed the service from today. According to Mahendra Raj Pandeya, CEO of Sajha Yatayat, 26 buses of the company are moving on 8 routes from today. Sajha buses have resumed operation in all the old routes including Godawari, Thankot, Lamatar, Balaju, and Suryabinayak. The company has hiked the rate by 50 percent.

 

The mobilization of public vehicles will provide some relief to the transport entrepreneurs as well as the commuters, who were compelled to walk long distances to reach their destination.