Amid depleted number of public transportation vehicles in the Capital due to the fuel embargo by India, Nepal Army has begun free transportation service from Wednesday.

NA Spokesperson Brigadier General Tara Bahadur Karki said that the Army operates four buses in eight routes in the Valley during office hours from 10 am and 3 pm.

The Army buses ply along New Baneshwor-Koteshwor-Balkhu-Tripureshwor-Ratnapark and Bhadrakali-Jamal-Teaching Hospital-Narayan Gopal Chowk-Ring Road-Balaju-Sorhakhutte-Kantipath-Maitighar routes. Similarly, other routes are Maitighar-Tripureshwor-Kalimati-Kalanki-Swayambhu-Chhauni-Teku-Thapathali and Maitighar-New Baneshwor-Tinkune-Airport-Gaushala-Narayan Gopal Chowk-Lazimpat-Bhadrakali.

During office hours, bus stations such as Ratnapark, New Baneshwor, Tripureshwor, Kalanki, Jamal, Swayambhu, Koteshwor, Satdobato and Chabahil remain crowded as people cannot board the few buses providing service to all commuters. Although against traffic rules, people have been forced to travel on bus roofs due to the dearth of public vehicles.

Likewise, NA operates its bus service in Thapathali-Jawalakhel-Satdobato-Koteshwor-Tinkune-New Baneshwor route, Thapathali-Jawalakhel-Ekantakuna-Kalanki-Kalimati-Tripureshwor-Ratnapark route, Maitighar-Old Baneshwor-Maitidevi-Putalisadak-Bagbazar route and Sahid Gate-Kalimati-Swayambhu-Gongabu-Samakhusi-Ratnapark route.

NA is expected to continue its public bus service till the fuel crisis ends. Nepal Police has also been providing a similar service from before.