Kathmandu braces for 1.5M Dashain exodus

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Oct. 5: Around 1.5 million people are expected to leave Kathmandu Valley for their hometowns during the Dashain festival, with nearly one million travelling by public transport, putting heavy pressure on the capital’s roads and transport infrastructure.

A report titled Public Transport Travel Management for Dashain Festival 2083, prepared by the Infrastructure Development Committee of the House of Representatives with technical support from the Society of Transport Engineers, Nepal (SOTEN), has warned of possible traffic congestion, ticketing irregularities and road safety risks during the festival rush.

Prepared under the chairmanship of committee chair Ashish Gajurel, the report is based on traffic data, road-condition assessments and an online passenger survey.

The busiest travel period is expected from October 17 to 19, from Fulpati to Ashtami, when 200,000 to 300,000 people are expected to leave the Valley. Fulpati alone could see around 113,283 passengers departing, requiring about 7,367 public vehicles.

Overall, an estimated 43,574 to 65,361 public transport trips will be required during the Dashain travel period, according to lawmaker Gajurel. The report estimates that 48 per cent of departing public vehicles will be large buses, 43 per cent microbuses and nine per cent minibuses. Another 150,000 to 250,000 passengers are expected to leave the Valley before Ghatasthapana.

Nagdhunga faces heavy pressure

Nagdhunga, Sanga and Pharping handle around 85-90 per cent of vehicle movements into and out of the Valley, with Nagdhunga expected to face the greatest pressure, particularly on the Narayangadh-bound corridor.

According to the report, 27 per cent of passengers travel towards Pokhara, 21 per cent towards Butwal, 19 per cent towards Narayangadh, 18 per cent towards Mugling and Dhading, and 15 per cent towards Lumbini and Chitwan.