September 18: The government has opened advance ticket bookings for those who wish to leave the major cities for their hometown for the upcoming Dasain, Tihar and Chhath festivals.    
Arrangements have been made for advance passenger bus ticket booking for those who are in the capital from different parts of the country for study, business and employment in order to facilitate them return home to celebrate the festivals.    
A significantly large number of people will leave the Kathmandu valley ahead of Dashain leading to an exodus of passengers. Hence, the advance booking of tickets has been opened almost two weeks before the festivals start.    
Department of Transport Management in collaboration with transport traders, traffic police and concerned agencies has opened the advance ticket booking from Saturday.    
President of the National Confederation of Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs, Bijay Bahadur Swar, said that advance ticket booking has been opened for long and medium distance routes. People can book their tickets in advance from New Bus Park, Chabahil, Gaushala, Koteshwar, Sundhara and Kalanki.    
According to him, advance ticket booking has been opened for places like Dhangadhi, Tikapur, Bajhang, Bajura, Salyan, Rukum, Pyuthan, Rolpa in the west and Taplejung, Ilam, Kakadvitta, Udayapur and other places in the east. The transport entrepreneurs have also requested the relevant agencies to facilitate the operation of transport by maintaining good condition of the major roads networks of the country.    
Lotse Multi-Purpose Pvt. Ltd., which operates the new bus park in Gongobu, has added ticket booking counters in collaboration with the transport operators. Head of human resources department of the company, Pankaj Malla, said that bus ticket counters have been increased in comparision to normal time to provide tickets to the passengers going home for Dashain in a systematic manner.    
Meanwhile, the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office and Traffic Management Department are going to set up passenger help desks at 14 different locations of the capital targeting the passengers leaving the capital for their home town.

Spokesperson of the office, Senior Superintendent of Police Rajendra Prasad Bhatta said that the passenger help desk will work to ensure that the passengers are not charged higher than the specified fare along with coordination required for the passengers to reach their destination without any hassles.  --  RSS