Countless souls from all over the country end up in Kathmandu, in pursuit of a dream. Who would think chasing a dream could feel so far away when the first challenge is just catching the bus?
Those living in the capital city are aware of the severely flawed public vehicle scenario. Hundreds of passengers who need to board public vehicles from major bus stations such as Ratnapark, Bhaktapur, Koteshwar, and Kalanki are forced to take overcrowded buses.
One major reason for vehicle overloading is the low passenger-carrying capacity of public transport systems. Out of 1.75 million registered vehicles in the valley, only about 3% are public vehicles. Of these, over 90% are minibuses and microbuses, which can carry only 15–20 passengers on average.
With 28% of valley residents relying on formal or informal public transport, public transport fails to meet the supply and demand. The lack of adequate road infrastructure along with rapid urbanisation has only intensified the city’s chronic congestion.
Additionally, many Kathmanduites, especially women, continue to grapple with this issue of harassment.
Harassment in Public Vehicles
During peak hours, public vehicles are overcrowded, and staff misconduct, haphazard stoppages, and unscheduled services only worsen the passengers’ experience.
After a draining day, Sitashma Risal, 20, an art student at Kathmandu University, was travelling from Ratnapark to Hattiban on a bus only to endure a series of unwelcoming events.
A visibly drunk man sat beside her; he then began asking personal questions and got touchy. When asked to stop, the man became aggressive. She tried to protest, but, ironically, other passengers told her to change seats instead of creating drama.
“I requested him to stop multiple times, but none of the passengers did anything about it,” Sitashma recalls. Later, when she demanded the driver stop the bus, no one let her out.
“This was not the first time. It happens to anyone who commutes through public transportation. Everyone has faced this issue at least once.” She adds frustratingly.
She is not the only one suffering, which is a sad reality. But what have responsible authorities done to ensure protection?
Passengers can report cases of harassment or misbehaviour in vehicles by calling 103. But with the increasing traffic jams and overcrowded buses, we alone cannot solve the problem.” Deputy Inspector General Mira Chaudhary states.
Affordable Yet Unreliable
Beyond safety, there are also the concerns of disappointing services. While public transportation is affordable, it is also unreliable and cramped.
According to the Nepal Oil Corporation, the price of petrol has increased to Rs 165-$1.24 per litre as of June 8, 2025. With the rise in the price of petrol, public transportation seems like a very affordable option, says Piyush, 22, from Bhaktapur, an everyday commuter.
The price of petrol is increasing regularly. Hence, many people are shifting towards the use of public vehicles, but the service has left them disappointed.
“Despite being cheap, the arrival of the vehicle is unpredictable and always waits at stops too long, making it difficult for us to reach our destination in time,” Piyush explains.
The Bagmati Provincial Ministry of Labour has granted a 45% discount to any student with a valid student ID card. Despite the regulations, most vehicles do not provide these discounts to students, some areas refuse students entry and others are often humiliated when they ask for them.
A survey revealed that 16% of men and 26% of women think they have no choice but to take public transport, despite overloaded vehicles, misconduct of staff, haphazard stoppage of vehicles, and unscheduled services.
Another study on public transportation in Kathmandu – Bhaktapur reveals that 43% of commuters use public transport daily. Most of the commuters’ reliance and usage have yet to translate into inclusive experiences. These transports have consistently failed to meet basic accessibility standards, with no ramps or low-floor buses.
Although there are a handful of disability-friendly electric buses, many of the vehicles are inaccessible due to their high steps and narrow aisles. To make the matter worse, the staff often rush disabled passengers without any assistance.
Even the seats reserved for the disabled are frequently occupied by other commuters. The needs of disabled people are often overlooked in current plans and policies.
More than 1,800 traffic police operate from the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office under the leadership of the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) for the management of vehicles within the Kathmandu Valley. However, management is still poor.
The authorities must act to make public transport safer by adding more vehicles, improving schedules, and enforcing current rules. One key step is switching to electric buses, as they are much cheaper to run – about one‑thirtieth the cost of diesel. Moreover, electric buses help reduce harmful emissions, improve air quality, and make transport more sustainable.
Pratikshya Bhatta is a junior editor with Nepal Connect.