Transport entrepreneurs, citing the unofficial blockade imposed by India, have decided not to issue earlier ticket booking facility during Dashain festival citing the ongoing fuel crisis in the country.

“We cannot issue the earlier ticket bookig facility due to fuel shortage,” informed Federation of Nepalese Transport Entrepreneurs (FNTE).

 Around 1.5 million people leave Kathmandu every Dashain. Passengers will now have to buy tickets on the day they leave for their destination.

The Transport Management Department said that it would be difficult for them to manage the huge number of people leaving Kathmandu during this festive season. “The ongoing crises have made it more challenging for us to manage the people leaving valley,” said Department Director Basanta Adhikary.

Meanwhile, Federation General Secretary Saroj Sitaula said that they will start ticket bookings if the government ensures to provide, in written, security and fuel to the transport entrepreneurs.

“Vehicular services have been affected due to fuel shortage causing problems for people who will be travelling to their homes outside valley,” Sitaula said. “Only 25 percent of the total vehicles are in operation until Monday.”

Transport sector has faced a loss of more than Rs 12 billion due to the ongoing protests and tension since 50 days.  Moreover, Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has lost Rs 2 billion in the last 2 months. The oil monopoly was profiting since adopting the auto-pricing system on September 29, 2014.

The transport entrepreneurs expressed their concerns to NOC on Monday evening. During the talk with NOC, the transport entrepreneurs demanded for fuel according to their routes.

Although the government has implemented odd-even number plate system and provided fuel to the public transport, it hasn’t been implemented properly. Entrepreneurs had demanded for further security with Home Ministry on Tuesday.