Works have started to give a facelift to the New Bus Park at Gongabu, with construction company Lhotse Multipurpose Pvt Ltd adding new infrastructure in the area once dotted by around 500 small eateries. 

In August 2015, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) had signed an agreement with Lhotse Multipurpose for the construction of modern infrastructure under the public private partnership (PPP) model. Under the deal, the company operate all of the infrastructure for 30 years after completing the construction. 

Chief Executive of KMC Rudra Singh Tamang claimed the bus park would be converted into an international standard bus terminal. 

The bus park is being revamped with the investment of around Rs 260 million. Once completed the facility will have space for 800 buses, up from current 450, allowing all the public buses running on long routes to be parked in Gongabu. Many of those buses have been forced to park in Gaushala, Tilganga, Kalanki and Koteshwor due to the lack of space at the bus park. 

The feature of the facility, however, will be a seven-storey modern shopping complex. It will house cinema theatres, banks, food courts, department stores, restaurants, among others.

The devastating earthquake in April 2015 might have reduced many a building to rubble in Gongabu, but Chairman of Lhotse Multipurpose Deepak Kunwar reassures that the building at the bus park will be earthquake resistance. 

Tamang told the Post that a plan to build a star hotel inside the park has been cancelled. “Instead, we will be increasing the parking area,” he said, adding that the bus park, which spreads over 161 ropanis of land, offers the passengers all sorts of facilities. 

Meanwhile, 50 more street solar lamps will be added to the 50 already installed at the bus station. 

The bus park operator is also building a separate space inside the complex where bus drivers can take rest and freshen up after a long drive. “We will also provide hygienic food for drivers at a competitive price,” said Kunwar. 

It will have a separate garage armed with modern equipment. The buses that depart from the bus park will only allowed to go out after a thorough examination, Kunwar claimed. 

To ensure ease of service to travellers, the new bus park will introduce the e-ticketing system, he announced. The system allows passengers to book their tickets over the internet. “It will prevent the passengers from getting cheated,” he said.