NPR. 50 million has been handed to Sajha to purchase 13 buses by the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) on Tuesday which includes 12 deluxe and one semi-low floor buses. The KMC has provided Sajha a total of NPR. 50 million under a complementary agreement for the expansion of its services in connection with improving the public transport in Kathmandu.
KMC Mayor, Bidhya Sundar Shakya handed over a cheque of NPR. 50 million to Sajha Yatayat Cooperatives Limited Chairman, Kanak Mani Dixit, at a program on Tuesday.
The co-operative had earlier signed an agreement with Ashok Leyland, an Indian automobile manufacturer, on June 16 to buy the buses.
Bringing an environment-friendly public transport into operation is one of the main infrastructure needed to develop Kathmandu into a smart city that the KMC has projected.
Free service to the elderly people above 70 and the disabled passengers was announced by the Sajha Yatayat on Tuesday. Both inside and out of the Valley, free bus service for elderly and disabled people is available on all the Sajha routes. Children under the age of five and citizens with poor identity cards are also entitled to getting free rides on Sajha buses.
Sajha Yatayat has installed the smart card system in 10 of its buses, enabling the passengers to pay their fare through a smart card. A smart card is a small plastic card embedded with a memory chip used for financial transactions, identification or as a key. Sajha Yatayat is planning to diversify the facility in other buses too. The co-operative has 30 buses in its fleet. “Small vehicles with minimum seats have added traffic over-crowding in the Valley. Sajha buses with 40 seats can help the passengers as well as subdue traffic jams” said KMC Spokesperson, Gyanendra Karki.
Let’s hope for some good changes in the transportation system with the money given to Sajha to purchase 13 buses by the KMC.
Reference: The Kathmandu Post