Over 262,000 passengers depart Kathmandu Valley ahead of Dashain

KATHMANDU — More than 262,000 passengers have left the Kathmandu Valley to return to their home districts to celebrate the major festival of Bada Dashain, according to the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Suresh Prasad Kaphle, Chief of the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police, reported that 262,753 travelers—comprising 161,167 men and 115,086 women—departed the capital aboard 37,964 vehicles between Ghatasthapana and Thursday.

Major transit checkpoints across the valley, including Nagdhunga, Pharping, Thankot, Bhimdhunga, Tinpiple, Sankhu, Bhaktapur, and Bhattedanda, have experienced significant surges in long-distance passenger and vehicle traffic.

To ensure safety and manage transit bottlenecks, traffic personnel have been deployed on 24-hour monitoring detail across key departure routes. Meanwhile, the Department of Roads confirmed that primary transport arteries—including the Nagdhunga–Naubise road section, Mugling–Narayanghat corridor, Kanti Highway, and BP Highway—remain operational for two-way vehicular movement.