KATHMANDU, Oct 4: Private schools in the Kathmandu Valley have expressed their willingness to mobilize their buses for ferrying passengers heading homes to celebrate Dashain.
But their readiness would be contingent upon the government's assurance to protect their vehicles from any harm.
“We can deploy 50 percent of our total vehicles to ferry passengers. We are ready to charge a fare that covers fuel costs and staff facilities,” said Lakshya Bahadur KC, president of the Private and Boarding Schools Organization Nepal (PABSON). “All we want is the government assurance of adequate security for our buses,” said KC.
Around 1,600 private schools in the Valley have a combined fleet of some 2,500 buses.
According to an estimate, around 1.5 million people leave the Kathmandu Valley during the Dashain festival.
Private buses operating in different routes have been found to be charging stiff fares from the people by imposing syndicate.
Many passengers are facing troubles in obtaining tickets at a fair rate due to shortage of buses.
The government officials, including Transport Management Minister Ramesh Lekhak, announced on Sunday that they would use government vehicles and private school buses to carry passengers going to the districts.
However, PABSON officials said that the government has not officially informed them about its plans to use private school vehicles to ease travel for people exiting the Valley to celebrate Dashain festival.
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