INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Kathmandu, February 13
Kathmandu Metropolitan City plans to operate night bus service within the metropolis
If everything goes as planned, KMC will launch night bus service by Nepali New Year in mid-April.
This is not the first time KMC has floated
Last year, KMC promised to operate night bus service within Kathmandu
That was the third promise made since August 2012, when KMC signed a pact with transport entrepreneurs to operate night bus service from
8:00 pm to 11:00 pm.
Despite its failure to operate the service in the past, KMC yesterday called a meeting of stakeholders to hold
discussion to operate night bus service.
The meeting lead by KMC Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya concluded to launch the service in a bid to
increase work hours and promote night life in the city.
Mayor Shakya said, &Although it is not an easy task, the metropolis is ready to
provide some kind of supports for public buses and taxis that operate at night to increase business hours in core city areas.& Mayor Shakya
said the service will be provided from 8:00pm to 11:00pm.
Hari Bahadur Kunwar, In-charge at the Department of Urban Good Governance, KMC
said the local body has reviewed its past attempts to run the service and will try to address the difficult issues this time
&We will encourage restaurant entrepreneurs to establish quality eateries around bus stops, ensure enough street lights, place more CCTV
cameras and enhance security mechanism.& Kunwar said they will also install CCTV cameras inside public vehicles that operate at night.
Night
buses and taxis will be required to operate even when the number of passengers is low
Gogan Bahadur Hamal, director general at Department of Transport Management said since more workers return home early evening, the
government should create an environment where people like to spend longer hours at work or hang out with friends after work at night.
The
Kathmandu District Administration Office and Metropolitan Traffic Police Range have pledged their support to the programme.
The post KMC
plans to operate night bus service within the city appeared first on The Himalayan Times.
