Pokhara-New Delhi direct bus service launched

KATHMANDU: New Delhi and Nepal's famous tourist spot Pokhara are now connected by road after a direct bus service was launched between the two cities, following the signing of an agreement during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit here in 2014.

The first direct bus service between Pokhara and New Delhi, South Asia's two important cities, was flagged off by Nepal Home Minister Shakti Bahadur Basnet and India's ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae yesterday from Pokhara.

The two countries had signed a Motor Vehicle Agreement during the visit paid by Modi to Nepal in November, 2014.

After the signing of the agreement, regular buses are being plied from Kathmandu-New Delhi, Kathmandu-Varanasi and Mahendranagar-Delhi and vice versa.

As per the decision made in the Motor Vehicle Agreement, a new bus service between Pokhara and New Delhi was proposed by the Uttar Pradesh State Road transport Corporation (UPSRTC).

Accordingly, a team of officers from UPSRTC visited Nepal in the month of May this year for discussing and finalising the modalities of the proposed bus service between Pokhara and Delhi.

The bus service is a joint initiative of the Modern Era Tours and Travels Pvt Ltd of Nepal and Uttar Pradesh Parivahan Nigam, Ghaziabad depot, of India.

Its bus fare has been fixed at Rs 2,200, informed Keshav Adhikari, at the Pokhara-based travel company.