Kathmandu. With Dashain approaching, the number of passengers returning to their villages from Kathmandu’s New Bus Park has increased.

People engaged in studies, employment and various professions have started returning to the villages in the capital to celebrate Dashain. The movement of passengers in long and short distance public transport going to different districts of the country from the New Bus Park has increased. The number of passengers returning to the village to celebrate the festival by meeting family and relatives has increased.

General Manager of Lhotse Multipurpose Pvt Ltd, Pankaj Malla, said that 207,251 passengers left the new bus park alone from October 1 to 12.

According to him, 18,729 passengers left the country on October 3, 19,530 on October 1, 23,016 on October 2, 29,602 on October 20, 22,288 on October 21, 25,201 on October 22, 31,235 on October 23, 16,970 on October 24 and 29,380 on October 25.

With the increase in the number of passengers returning home for Dashain, transport entrepreneurs are facing problems in managing passengers. Deknath Gautam, general secretary of the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs, said that there is a problem in managing the transport due to the road.

General Secretary Gautam said that many vehicles were stranded in Kathmandu as the Prithvi Highway at Galaudi of Dhading collapsed on October 7, the day the bus ticket booking was opened.

The federation has urged the passengers to travel only by buying tickets, paying the fixed fare and checking the condition of the vehicles. As Dashain strengthens the relationship between family, relatives and community, the number of people returning home to celebrate the festival increases every year.