Nearly one million Nepalis travel home for dashain
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
Around one million people in Nepal are travelling from Kathmandu Valley to their home villages for the Dashain festival.
The increase in travel began with Ghatasthapana and will continue as people seek to celebrate with family and friends. Many are willing to risk traffic and unsafe conditions to reach their ancestral homes. Ashish Gajurel, chair of the Infrastructure Development Committee, reported that projections estimate between 650,000 and 975,000 passengers will leave the Kathmandu Valley by public transport for Dashain.
Meeting this demand will require a minimum of 43,000 to a maximum of 65,000 vehicle trips. A seventeen-member study team led by Gajurel prepared a report identifying short- and long-term solutions to travel challenges during the festival. The report predicts the highest passenger volume will occur over three days, from October 31st (Fulpati) to November 2nd (Ashtami), with an estimated 75,522 to 113,283 people travelling on Fulpati alone.
Large buses are expected to carry over 48 percent of passengers, while microbuses and minibuses will account for 43 and 9 percent respectively. Road conditions pose challenges, as recent floods have damaged sections of the Prithvi Highway and the Budi Gandaki River washed away a bridge in Gorkha, disrupting travel. The Nepal Transportation Operators National Federation noted the poor condition of national highways makes safe travel difficult.
Authorities are preparing resources, including 53 large bulldozers and excavators, to address potential disasters and maintain roadways. Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police plan to deploy over 1,300 officers to manage traffic during the festival, prioritizing vehicle and driver checks for safety and compliance.
