Beijing, April 30 – China has launched its first direct bus service from the land-locked Himalayan region of Tibet to neighbouring Nepal so as to promote bilateral ties, including trade and tourism.
The bus, which will link Tibet’s capital, Lhasa and Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu began its journey yesterday, media reports said here today.
According to the Sino-Nepal agreement, the bus will be allowed to complete eight trips every month, general manager of Himalaya Passenger Transport Co., Ltd., Kong Chunfang said.
A single trip will take two days, including stay at Lazi County for one night. Passengers can carry five kilograms of personal luggage and check fifteen kilograms for free.
The one-way fare for the two-day trans-Himalayan journey is 70 US dollars, Xinhua news agency reported.
Kong said that the Himalaya Passenger Transport Co., Ltd., the exclusive Chinese operator of the bus line, would provide aviation-level services.
The company will use two South Korean Hyundai luxury buses, which have 35 seats each and are currently the safest buses in Tibet.
Each bus will be staffed with two drivers and one conductor. The latter can speak Mandarin, Tibetan, Nepalese and English.
In addition, the buses are also equipped with first-aid kits and drinking fountains and provide souvenirs to passengers.
Nepal will launch its bus service to Lhasa on May one, Xinhua news agency reported from Kathmandu. Currently, Lhasa is linked by direct flights from Kathmandu. However, due to inclement weather in winter, the flights remain suspended during the period.
