Nationwide route permits to remain open from Ghatasthapana to Kojagrat Purnima

KATHMANDU: Route permits across the country will remain open from Ghatasthapana, the first day of the Dashain festival, until Kojagrat Purnima to ease the journeys of passengers travelling to their hometowns.

The decision was reached during a meeting on Tuesday at the Department of Transport Management (DoTM). The gathering included representatives from the Nepal Police, traffic police, transport entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders. It was agreed that route permits would be open throughout the fifteen-day from October 11 to 25.

Advance ticket bookings for Dashain travel will begin on October 9. Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE) President Punya Prasad (Saroj) Sitaula stated that passenger vehicles will be given operational priority while taking road conditions into account, with other vehicles allowed to operate thereafter.

The DoTM confirmed it is coordinating with relevant agencies to ensure effective transport administration during the festival, a period when vast numbers of people leave the Kathmandu Valley and other urban centres.

During the meeting, DoTM Director General Rajeev Pokharel noted that preparations for advance ticket booking and transport management were being made to ensure passengers do not face unnecessary difficulties. He expressed confidence that such arrangements would make tickets easily accessible and help travellers reach their destinations safely.

The department also pledged to give special attention to transport operations, ticket management, road conditions, and passenger safety to manage the anticipated surge in festival traffic.

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