After suspension of flights to and from Kathmandu on Wednesday, the Delhi-Kathmandu international bus service operated by the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) was also suspended amid the chaos in the Himalayan nation.
In a statement, Air India said its flights to and from Kathmandu on September 10 have been cancelled as the airport continues to remain closed. “We are closely monitoring the situation and will share further updates,” the airline stated. The Tata Group-owned airline operates a total of 12 flights to and from Kathmandu.
In a post on X, IndiGo said that following the extension of the airport closure in Kathmandu, all flights to and from the city will remain cancelled until 1800 hours on September 10. “We fully understand the uncertainty this may cause and want to assure you that flexible options remain open. We continue to extend waivers on rescheduling and cancellations for travel to and from Kathmandu until September 12, applicable for bookings made on or before September 9.
“While operations are on hold, our teams are actively coordinating with the relevant authorities and remain fully prepared to restore services as soon as permissions are granted,” the carrier said. Air India Express cancelled its services to the Nepalese city on Wednesday.
The student-led ‘Gen Z’ protests in Nepal that began against a Governmentban on social media expanded into a larger campaign reflecting growing public criticism of the K P Sharma Oli dispensation and the country’s political elite over alleged corruption and apathy towards the common people.
On the suspension of DTC bus service between Delhi-Kathmandu, an official said the bus service is being suspended.” This service, known as the Delhi-Kathmandu Maitri Bus Sewa, symbolises the strong ties between India and Nepal and remains a popular choice for travellers. We are suspending it as of now and will resume it once the situation normalises,” an official said. Refunds will be issued to passengers who had made bookings, another official added.
The bus covers a distance of 1,167 kilometres, with a fare of Rs 2,800. It operates six days a week, with DTC buses running on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and Nepal’s Manjushree Yatayat buses running on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
DTC deploys Volvo buses for the route, while Manjushree Yatayat uses Marco Polo buses. According to the DTC website, the journey includes designated halts at Firozabad, Faizabad, Mugling and Sonauli (the India-Nepal border) for Customs checks. The passengers are not allowed to disembark or board at other locations along the route.
The Indian and Nepalese citizens are required to carry valid government-issued photo identification such as a passport or voter ID card and the foreign nationals need to present a valid passport and visa, it said.
The service, launched on November 25, 2014 from Dr Ambedkar Stadium Bus Terminal near Delhi Gate, features air-conditioned buses with a 2x2 comfortable seating arrangement.
The operation was shut down on March 23, 2020, amid the first wave of the pandemic. It was resumed in December 2021.
However, only diesel-powered buses operate on the route, as no CNG or electric buses are available yet.
Prime Minister Oli resigned in the face of massive protests, even as the ban on social media was lifted late on Monday night. The demonstrators stormed many Governmentbuildings and set the parliament as well as homes of several high-profile leaders ablaze, a day after 19 people died in violence.
