Night Bus Service Launched in Kathmandu Valley with Electric Buses for Safer Travel

Night bus services have officially begun in the Kathmandu Valley from the start of the New Year, aiming to make travel easier and safer during evening hours. This new service has been introduced through a joint effort of local governments including Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Chandragiri, and Budhanilkantha.

At present, seven buses have been deployed for this service. These buses are modern and equipped with facilities such as Wi-Fi, CCTV cameras, and onboard municipal police to ensure passenger safety. According to Acting Mayor Sunita Dangol, the buses will run at fixed intervals on selected routes.

In the first phase, electric buses are operating on key routes including Lagankhel to Budhanilkantha and Thankot to the airport. One route connects Lagankhel to Budhanilkantha, passing through important locations like Patan Hospital, Norvic Hospital, Bir Hospital, Teaching Hospital, and Gangalal Heart Center. This route covers approximately 16 kilometers in one direction.

Another major route runs from Thankot to Tribhuvan International Airport, passing through areas such as Kalanki, Kalimati, Tripureshwor, Maitighar, Baneshwor, and Tinkune. This route covers around 20 kilometers one way. Currently, four electric buses are operating across these routes during nighttime.

The service is being managed in partnership with Sajha Yatayat. In the initial phase, Sajha Yatayat will handle operational costs, while local governments are expected to share expenses in the future under a partnership model.

This new initiative is expected to solve the problem of limited public transport at night and provide a safer, more reliable option for commuters. The night bus service is scheduled to operate daily from 8 PM to 11 PM.