DTC resumes international bus service to Nepal after situation stabilises

The Delhi-Kathmandu international bus service, operated by the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), has resumed operations after being suspended due to unrest in Nepal, officials confirmed on Friday.

The service had been halted on September 10 when a bus got stranded amid political chaos in Nepal. “After the bus returned safely and the situation stabilised, the service was restarted,” an official said, adding that commuter numbers remain consistent with pre-suspension levels.

Nepal recently witnessed a political transition with former Chief Justice Sushila Karki becoming the nation’s first woman prime minister to lead an interim government. This ended the uncertainty following the resignation of K P Sharma Oli amid nationwide protests triggered by a social media ban.

The 1,167-kilometre bus route charges Rs 2,800 and operates six days a week. DTC runs buses on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while Nepal’s Manjushree Yatayat operates on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Volvo buses are deployed by DTC, whereas Manjushree Yatayat uses Marco Polo buses.

The journey includes stops at Firozabad, Faizabad, Mugling, and Sonauli (India-Nepal border) for customs checks. Passengers are required to carry valid government-issued photo identification, such as passports or voter ID cards. Foreign nationals must present a valid passport and visa. Boarding or disembarking is allowed only at designated stops.

Launched on November 25, 2014, from Dr Ambedkar Stadium Bus Terminal near Delhi Gate, the service features air-conditioned buses with comfortable 2x2 seating. The service was earlier suspended on March 23, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed in December 2021. Currently, only diesel-powered buses operate on the route, as CNG and electric buses are not yet available.