Kathmandu, November 1 – There will soon be direct buses from Kathmandu to Lhasa, headquarters of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
After a decade’s discussions between the two governments, Beijing and Kathmandu have finally signed an agreement in Lhasa to start direct bus services from Kathmandu from the first week of May 2005.
According to the agreement, each side will operate two buses in the initial phase. However, the frequency of the bus service could not be ascertained immediately.
Three types of buses – luxury, standard and general – will ply on the 900-km Kathmandu-Lhasa route. Fares have been determined at $70 for luxury buses, $60 for standard and $50 for general buses.
Nepal is hoping the direct bus service will boost tourism and trade between Nepal and Tibet.
India still remains the Himalayan kingdom’s biggest trade partner. The largest number of tourists to Nepal is from India while among all foreign countries, the largest number of Nepalese go to India countries for work, business, education, medical care as well as social reasons.
However, an India-Nepal direct bus service could not take off despite the two countries inking an agreement. Signed during the previous government of Surya Bahadur Thapa, it was stalled by the present coalition government of Sher Bahadur Deuba after pressure from Nepalese transport operators.
