Bus service Kathmandu-Lhasa (Tibet) - Nepal news

KATHMANDU-LHASA BUS SERVICE

A meeting of Nepali and Chinese officials on Saturday finalized issues related to the much-awaited direct bus service between Kathmandu and Lhasa. The teams will, however, meet once again on Sunday to give a final touch and “sort out” issues that remain. The service is scheduled to start from May 1. Prushottam Ojha, Secretary at the Ministry of Labour and Transport Management, said issues are being sorted out since there has been a consensus on starting the bus service. Efforts are also on to ensure round-the-year service although Sajha Yatayat will have only two buses while the booking will open by April end. The journey is expected to take three days.

STAGE SET FOR BUS SERVICE TO LHASA

A meeting of Nepali and Chinese officials today finalized issues related to the much awaited direct bus service between Kathmandu and Lhasa. The team will however, meet once again tomorrow evening to give a final touch and “sort out” the remaining issues.

The meeting worked out details of the service which will connect the scenic Tibetan capital of Lhasa with Kathmandu. The bus service is scheduled to start from May 1.

The teams today picked up issues which were not sorted out in the earlier meetings, with nagging issues of ht status of roads on the Nepali side topping the agenda.

Both the teams sorted out guidelines concerning repair and maintenance of buses on the way, lodging for passengers and stations where the buses will be refuelled. There are at least three stations on each side of the 100km road.

Purushottam Ojha, Secretary at the Ministry of Labour and Transport Management, said issues are being sorted out since there has been a consensus starting the bus service.

While efforts are also on to ensure round-the-year service although Sajha Yatayat will have only two buses while the booking will open by April end. The journey is expected to take three days.

It may be recalled that the meeting which was held on October had decided that the number of daily direct luxury buses would be 21.

The issues, which are expected to be sorted out by tommorow’s meeting, are whether the buses can pick up passengers on the way and whether the Sajha Yatayat should have the authority to issue visa permits as well. “They were convinced with the condition of the roads,” said Mukunda Satyal, general manager of the Sajha Yatayat.

The Nepali team insisted that the buses should be allowed to pick up passenger at Khasa on way to Kathmandu and suggested that the Sajha Yatayat should be allowed to issue visas.

Meanwhile, the fare has been fixed at $70 in case of luxury coaches while the same is $50 for ordinary buses.

The service can be discontinued for three months in winter if there is no agreement over year-round service.