Kathmandu rolls out night bus service to make late travel safer and affordable

Kathmandu -Kathmandu Metropolitan City is set to introduce a night-time public transportation service starting from Baisakh 1, 2083, in collaboration with Sajha Yatayat.

The new service aims to make travel easier, safer, and more affordable for residents, especially during late hours when public transport is limited.

Two main routes have been planned. The north-south route will run approximately 16 kilometers from Lagankhel to Budhanilkantha, passing through key locations such as Patan Hospital, Alka, Norvic, Maternity Hospital, Trauma Center, Bir Hospital, Kanti Children’s Hospital, Teaching Hospital, and Gangalal Heart Center.

The east-west route will cover around 20 kilometers from Thankot to Tribhuvan International Airport, passing through Satungal, Kalanki, Kalimati, Tripureshwor, Thapathali, Maitighar Mandala, Baneshwor, Minbhawan, and Tinkune.

A total of four electric buses will operate on these routes during night hours.

Acting Mayor Sunita Dangol said the service is being launched to address the lack of public transportation after 8 PM, which has forced commuters to rely on expensive travel options. She highlighted that students and women are among those most affected, often facing financial burden and safety concerns.

Initially, buses will run from 8 PM to 11 PM, with a frequency of every 20 minutes at designated stops. The buses will be equipped with CCTV cameras, and municipal police personnel will be deployed to ensure passenger safety.

The metropolitan city has stated that it aims to develop this service into a modern, integrated, safe, and reliable public transport system and is open to partnerships to further improve the service.