Nepal and India are all set to launch a direct bus service linking Kathmandu and Varanasi from Thursday.
This is the second direct bus service between Nepal and India after the one linking Kathmandu and New Delhi.
Officials said Kathmandu and Varanasi hitherto did not have a direct bus, rail or air service and this new bus service of around a day’s travel time will make a significant contribution in promoting religious tourism on both sides.
“We have completed all necessary preparations regarding the direct bus service,” Tulasi Prasad Sitaula, secretary in Nepal’s Ministry of Physical Planning and Infrastructure said.
“Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transportation Bimalendra Nidhi, Joint Secretary in the Indian Road Transport and Highways Ministry, Sanjay Bandopadhyay, Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae, and senior transport officials of the Uttar Pradesh government will jointly flag off the bus service on Thursday morning from Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu,” he said.
Similarly, it is learnt that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will flag off the bus service in Varanasi.