Dashain rush exposes digital gap at New Bus Park

Kathmandu, Oct. 16: Hundreds of passengers travelling to Western Nepal, Sudurpaschim and Karnali regions were queuing at Gongabu’s New Bus Park from the early hours of the morning to buy long-distance bus tickets. 

Although passenger help desks had been deployed to manage the crowds, notices reading “No Online, Only Cash” pasted on ticket windows were raising questions about the gap between digital progress and the realities of public transport services.

The six-day scene at the New Bus Park was a mixture of excitement and uncertainty. Students pursuing higher education in the capital, private- and government-sector employees, and daily-wage workers stood in the chilly morning air, hoping to secure seats for their journeys home for Dashain.

A banner displayed on the red-brick wall listed fares to various destinations. However, a small instruction at the bottom caught the attention of passengers: “Please make payments in cash.”

In an age when digital wallets, mobile banking and QR-code payments have become increasingly common, the cash-only requirement has added inconvenience for passengers who prefer cashless transactions. 

It also means carrying physical money, potentially exposing travellers to the risk of theft or pickpocketing in crowded areas.

The issue has become particularly relevant during the Dashain travel rush, when thousands of people leave Kathmandu Valley to celebrate the festival with their families.