KATHMANDU: Commuters in the Kathmandu Valley can now track the location of public vehicles from their mobile phones.
The KTM Public Transport mobile application has been launched to provide real-time information on public transport operating across the Valley. Users can check where a vehicle is and estimate how long it may take to reach their waiting point.
The application was launched on Wednesday by Sunita Dangol, acting mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City and chairperson of the Federal Capital Urban Area Public Transport Council. It was unveiled during the council’s third meeting.
The app currently provides information on around 1,200 GPS-enabled public vehicles. Authorities plan to gradually increase the number of vehicles covered by the system.
The platform is expected to make public transport more convenient by providing passengers with information about vehicles on the road.
During the meeting, Dangol stressed the need to make daytime public transport simpler and more accessible. She also called for expanding night bus services and operating public transport early in the morning for school and college students.
She said public transportation cannot be managed within the boundaries of a single municipality because routes connect multiple local governments. She called for greater coordination among municipalities to provide more uniform services.
Chiribabu Maharjan, vice-chair of the council and mayor of Lalitpur Metropolitan City, said the system should make passengers feel more comfortable when using public buses.
The council has also approved several programs for the current year. These include determining bus stops and pick-and-drop points, preparing conditions and contract models for night bus services, and working with municipalities to expand such services.
The council also plans to establish a public transport information system at major bus stops and bus parks using GPS tracking. Work will also begin on creating the legal framework for cashless fare payments.
Authorities will also run campaigns to encourage passengers to take tickets and conduct studies on public transport-related issues.
The council has 35 members and was established to coordinate public transport management across the federal capital area. Its first meeting was held on September 14, 2023, while the second meeting was held in 2024.
The launch of the KTM Public Transport app marks another step towards bringing real-time tracking and digital services to Kathmandu Valley’s public transport system.
