The talk between transport entrepreneurs and authorities in regards to the issue of advanced booking for Dashain travel on Friday remains inconclusive. The Federation of the Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs Association (FNNTEA) have refused to start advanced booking, demanding that the government lift the freeze on the transport committees’ bank accounts and also review the ticket prices.

Representatives from the Department of Transport Management (DoTM) on Wednesday assured the

agitating public transport entrepreneurs that it would address their demands after consulting the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT) but officials at the ministry seem to be completely unaware of the issue.

“I am unaware of the ticket-booking issues and the ministry’s decision to unfreeze the bank accounts,” said Ministry Spokesperson Rajendra Raj Sharma.

Gopal Sigdel, a joint secretary at the ministry, said there had been no discussion regarding ticket-booking at the ministry, and the DoTM is solely responsible to deal with the entrepreneurs.

The DoTM, meanwhile, is waiting for its Director General Lawanya Kumar Dhakal to return from India.

“Once the DG returns, we will discuss the issue with the ministry and find a possible solution. The ticket-booking issue will surely be fixed by the coming week,” said DoTM Spokesperson Gokarna Prasad Upadhyay.