Delhi-Kathmandu Bus Service Resumes

After a long break — over 1.5 years — owing to Covid, the bus service from New Delhi to Kathmandu has now resumed. The news comes after the latest Covid guidelines from Ministry of Home Affairs were announced, resuming services on the same schedule as before the services were halted. 

The Delhi Transport Corporation also issued a notification for the same, stating the tie up with Skyline India (Motors) Private Limited for the operations of the bus. The notification also mentioned about strict Covid protocols — as stated by the MHA — in place and to be adhered to at all times. 

The bus will begin its onward journey to Kathmandu from Delhi Gate on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. As for the return ride from Kathmandu, the service will be available on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The service connecting both the countries’ capital cities will also halt at the border — Sonauli — for a customs check and passengers will not be allowed to board or de-board en route except at the scheduled halts — such as Firozabad (India) and Mugling (Nepal).

The bus service — Maitri Bus Sewa — that first began in November 2014 as a symbol of friendship covers a distance of approximately 1,167 kms between the two capital cities, and was brought to a halt in Mach 2020 during the first wave of Covid-19. 

For the journey, all passengers mandatorily need to carry their Covid vaccination certificate. Along with this, a negative RT-PCR report — obtained within 72 hours of the beginning the journey — also needs to be produced. Travellers failing to produce the said documents will not be allowed to board. The fare of the bus has also been revised and placed at at Rs2,800 as opposed to the previous Rs2300,.