Minister Jwala vows smooth public transport

Minister for Physical Infrastructures and Transport Management, Prakash Jwala, vowed smooth public transportation in the wake of coming festivals as Dashain, Tihar and Chhath. On the eve of these festivals, the country witnesses higher number of road and air transports.

During a meeting of the transport infrastructure committee under the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Minister Jwala informed that government would pay special attention to ensure public transport commuters-friendly despite limited resources. "Government is committed to necessary coordination and facilitation among the related bodies for repair and upgrading of the highways and auxiliary roads in view of the festivals," he reminded.

According to him, the road repair was however disturbed due to incessant rainfall. The ministry is for hassle-free travel of the people from cities to villages and return to cities again, he assured.

It is estimated that at least 1.5 million people will be leaving the Kathmandu Valley for different districts for Dashain festival this year.

In the meeting, committee members Thakur Gaire, Mahesh Basnet, Pratima Gautam, Dinesh Kumar Yadav, Madhav Sapkota, among others urged the government to provide necessary budget for the repair and upgrading of roads so that it would help ensure convenient and hassle-free travel.

The government was also made aware about the possible incidents of fleecing bus passengers by the highway eateries on the run-up to festivals.

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