Government to Facilitate Travel during Festivals as Public Transport Services Resume

The government has pledged to facilitate safe and smooth travel during the upcoming festivals of Dashain, Tihar, and Chhath as nationwide public transport resumed after a weeklong halt caused by the September 8–9 Gen-Z protests.

A meeting at Singha Durbar on Sunday, chaired by Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Secretary Keshav Kumar Sharma, decided to restart passenger and cargo services and implement a comprehensive travel management plan for the festive rush.

The meeting formed a high-level transport management committee led by Director General of the Department of Transport Management, Rajiv Pokharel. Members include the chiefs of the Nepal Police Highway Security Division and the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, along with representatives of the Federation of Nepal National Transport Entrepreneurs, transport workers, and traffic police.

The committee will coordinate vehicle safety inspections, establish passenger help desks, ensure adequate bus services, and open advance ticket booking for travelers heading home. Authorities will also issue a public notice banning the transport of looted arms on public and passenger vehicles.

Officials further decided to collect details of damage to public vehicles and transport offices during the protests and to begin the process for appropriate compensation.