15 July 2020, Kathmandu
It has been more than three months the public transport came to a grinding halt. But a few public buses are seen plying the streets of the Kathmandu Valley with a dismal presence of passengers.
Buses belonging to Mayur, Samyukta and Sundar Transport companies have begun plying on the streets after the government decided, a week back, to operate public transport carrying 50 percent passengers and maintaining adequate safety standard.
However, the Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs’ National Federation has informed that most of the public buses were not ready for resuming service for lack of safety measures.
Therefore, only a few buses and taxis are in operation now. “The Federation is still holding discussion with the government. Discussions are making positive notes, and we’re also for resuming service,” General Secretary of Federation, Saroj Sitaula, said.
The Ministry of Physical Infrastructures and Transport, and the Transport Department have been holding discussion with the Federation and workers’ organizations to safely resume the public bus service.
The Department’s Director General Gogan Bahadur Hamal said discussions were held with entrepreneurs, workers’ union, people’s representatives and officials from Health Ministry.
The discussion is focused on how safety criteria can be maintained in public buses at a time when cases of coronavirus have been increasing in the Kathmandu Valley.
On the other hand, the people have said the buses and taxis which resumed service have not maintained safety protocol.
