KATHMANDU: Starting this Saturday, tickets for the upcoming Nepali holidays of Dashain, Tihar, and Chhat will go on sale in advance. Several traffic control measures have been established by the Department of Transport Management (DoTM) to address the surge in travel during the festival season.

Public transportation companies have decided to allow prior reservations for medium- and long-distance travel beginning on Saturday, says Ishwori Dutta Paneru, Director and Spokesperson of the DoTM. The goal of this move is to make the procedure easier for passengers.

There's a big push for online ticket sales to speed up the ticketing process and enhance passenger convenience. Paneru further underlined that in order to improve safety and avoid crowding, only passengers with tickets will be permitted to board buses.

In order to guarantee security and accountability, the department has also mandated that public transportation providers keep thorough passenger identity records for every journey.

In order to enhance the safety and comfort of passengers during lengthy bus rides, drivers and co-drivers will be trained to control congestion at roadside restaurants where buses stop.

To ensure that passengers purchase from authorized sources, strict enforcement actions will be implemented to stop the sale of unauthorized tickets at unregistered counters.

In order to facilitate smooth traffic flow during this busy time, officials are advised to maintain important roads prior to the festival rush. Road conditions are also a top priority.

From October 3 to October 17, big vehicles and trailers (except from those transporting necessities) will not be permitted to drive the Narayanghat-Kathmandu road in an effort to ease traffic. It is anticipated that this limitation will lessen traffic at periods of high travel demand.

For the Dashain festival, route permits for passenger vehicles will be available across the country, valid from Ghatasthapana (the first day of Dashain) to Purnima (the last day of the festival), although some vehicle restrictions will apply on roads that are in poor condition.

Furthermore, regular health examinations will be conducted for drivers of public transportation, with an emphasis on alcohol and drug use. To protect the safety of the passengers, the operator must substitute any driver who is discovered to be intoxicated right away.

In cooperation with the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Citizen Help Desks will be erected at strategic sites to aid travelers. These places, which offer direction and assistance during the festival season, are Nagdhunga, Kalanki, Swayambhu, and numerous others.

The Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office spokesperson, Bishwaraj Khadka, reaffirmed that stringent safety inspections will be carried out during the festival season to guarantee the safety of passengers.

During Nepal's busiest festival season, these joint efforts are intended to improve traffic control and passengers' travel experience.