With the Bada Dashain festival fast approaching, Nepal’s travel infrastructure is receiving a significant boost to ensure smoother and safer journeys for millions of travellers. The newly accessible Nagdhunga Tunnel is a key part of this improvement, providing an alternative route for passenger vehicles to exit the Kathmandu Valley, which will help ease the heavy congestion on traditional highways during the holiday rush. Additionally, road improvements across major highways, such as better maintenance and traffic management strategies, are designed to enhance safety and reduce the risks associated with the increased travel volume. Together, these changes aim to ensure that Dashain travellers can reach their destinations more efficiently, with fewer delays and greater peace of mind.
Dashain is Nepal’s most widely celebrated festival, and with it comes an annual wave of mass migration. Families return to their hometowns, bus parks overflow with passengers, and highways face relentless traffic. Recognizing these pressures, the government has drawn up a festival-specific mobility plan.
One key aspect of the plan is to provide continuous traffic updates so travellers can make informed decisions. A system is being put in place to register and resolve passenger complaints quickly, reducing frustration and avoiding repeat problems that often plague long journeys during festive times.
Beyond easing traffic, safety has been placed at the heart of the preparations. Security personnel will be stationed at busy points, such as Kathmandu’s New Bus Park, as well as along major highways. Their presence is intended to keep travel orderly, discourage illegal practices like overcharging for tickets, and provide support in case of accidents or emergencies.
Another important step is the restriction on heavy freight vehicles. Trucks with twelve wheels or more will not be allowed to pass through the Daunne stretch of the Butwal–Narayanghat road during the festival. By limiting the presence of such large vehicles, authorities aim to reduce accidents and keep this critical section of highway flowing more smoothly.
The Department of Roads has been asked to ensure that key highways remain open and usable throughout the Dashain season. Priority work includes repairing damaged stretches, maintaining two-way traffic at Daunne, and clearing blockages caused by the Tuin River along the Narayangadh–Muglin route. In addition, the road to the Tatopani border is expected to reopen before the festival begins, restoring an important trade and travel link.
A 24-hour duty officer will monitor the condition of highways nationwide. This system is designed to allow quick responses to landslides, traffic jams, or other disruptions that could delay thousands of travellers. The goal is to prevent the types of prolonged closures and bottlenecks that in the past left passengers stranded for hours or even days.
The festival travel plan was the result of a joint meeting of government departments, security agencies, and representatives of the transport sector. The session emphasized coordination and teamwork, noting that no single institution can manage the seasonal rush alone. By aligning responsibilities and maintaining close communication, the agencies hope to ensure that traffic keeps moving and passengers remain safe.
The introduction of the Nagdhunga–Sisneri tunnel as a Dashain route marks a turning point in the Valley’s transport options. The tunnel, built to provide a faster and more reliable passage, will not only help reduce congestion but also give passengers a glimpse of how Nepal’s infrastructure is evolving.
Coupled with bans on oversized trucks, boosted security at bus parks, and emergency monitoring on highways, these steps form a multi-layered strategy. The approach goes beyond simply managing traffic: it’s about giving citizens the confidence that they can reach their families in safety and without unnecessary hardship.
Nepal’s Dashain travel receives a boost with the opening of the Nagdhunga Tunnel and key road improvements, designed to ease congestion and ensure safer, more efficient journeys for holiday travellers.
As the holiday nears, the message is clear—while challenges may remain, authorities are determined to make this Dashain a smoother travel experience than years past. For the millions preparing to journey home, these measures could mean fewer delays, safer roads, and more time spent with loved ones.
