Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said the government has started necessary preparations to bring about qualitative changes in public transportation service of the Kathmandu Valley. The Ministry of Physical Infrastructures and Transport has taken initiatives to make necessary arrangements to run large-size buses in the Kathmandu Valley, mentioned PM Dahal. Addressing a meeting of stakeholders at the official residence of the Prime Minister in Baluwatar on Monday, the PM shared that preparations have been taken to reduce traffic pressure by operating Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). The Physical Infrastructures and Transport Ministry is working to operate BRT along the Ratna Park-Surya Binayak road section from September 18.
Prime Minister directed the concerned officials to operate the BRT service as a trail even after the office hour though the Ministry has planned to operate the BRT service only during the office hour. He also urged them to make arrangements for traffic signals, mobilization of traffic police, public awareness and traffic lights required for the same. PM Dahal viewed that it was needed to give relief to the Valley dwellers directly by making necessary preparations. Similarly, he asked the Ministry to create an environment for bringing 40 buses of Sajha Yatayat into operation. For lack of charging station, the electric buses brought by the Sajha Yatayat have not yet run.
Prime Minister Dahal stressed that charging stations should be set up at Pulchowk-based land of the Sajha Yatayat while laying emphasis on the need of making necessary preparations for the construction of charging stations at other places in the Kathmandu Valley. He directed the Ministry to set up charging stations at other places of the country. Out of 51 charging stations constructed across the country, a large number of charging stations have already come into operation. A taskforce comprising the office-bearers of Department of Transport Management, Department of Roads has made necessary preparations by carrying out a study for the operation of BRT service.
