Kathmandu. A total of 262,753 passengers have left the Kathmandu Valley since Ghatasthapana in connection with the celebration of the great festival of Nepalis, Bada Dashain. The number of passengers returning home from the Kathmandu Valley has increased in the last few days. According to Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Chief and Senior Superintendent of Police Suresh Prasad Kafle, a total of 37,964 vehicles have left the Kathmandu Valley since today.

The number of passengers at bus parks and major transit points in the Kathmandu Valley has increased with the number of people returning to their birthplaces in course of study, employment and different occupations with the advent of Dashain festival.

Among the passengers who left the valley, 1,15,086 are women and 1,61,167 are men. He said that the number of passengers in long and short distance public transport is also increasing as people return home to celebrate Dashain.

With the increase in the number of passengers leaving the Kathmandu Valley, the movement of vehicles at the major checkpoints of the Kathmandu Valley has also increased. Passengers going to different districts are heading towards their destinations by public buses and other vehicles.

According to the Kathmandu Traffic Police Office, the number of passengers leaving Nagdhunga, Pharping, Thankot, Bhimdhunga, Tinpiple, Sankhu, Bhaktapur and Bhattedanda is continuing. The traffic police have paid special attention to manage the movement of vehicles as the number of passengers returning home for Dashain has increased at these checkpoints.

As the number of passengers increases in public transport during the festival time, the transport entrepreneurs including the police have made arrangements for effective checking to ensure safe and smooth travel of the passengers.

Kathmandu Traffic Police Chief and Senior Superintendent of Police Kafle said that the traffic police have been deployed on the road round the clock to ensure the safety of the passengers and to minimize road accidents during the Dashain, Tihar and other festivals. According to him, the traffic police have increased surveillance on the road with the objective of easing the movement of passengers, managing the pressure of vehicles and minimizing possible accidents.

“Traffic police are working on the road round the clock for the safety of passengers and to reduce road accidents. Our aim is to make everyone’s journey successful and safe. “, he said.

According to him, the passengers travelling on long routes should pay special attention to vehicle condition, driver’s health and driving time during the festivals.

According to the Department of Transport Management, traffic is being operated on both sides of the Nagdhunga-Naubise road, the Muglin-Narayangadh road, the Kanti Highway and the BP Highway.