KATHMANDU: Ahead of the upcoming House of Representatives election, a significant number of voters are leaving Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, to return to their home districts to cast their ballots.

Bus terminals across the city are witnessing heavy crowds as residents, who have been living in the valley for work, studies, or other reasons, make their way home to exercise their voting rights.

Terminals such as New Bus Park (Gongabu), Kalanki, Koteshwor, and Balkhu have seen intense footfall since early morning. Passengers have reported difficulties securing tickets on long-distance vehicles due to overwhelming demand.

Transport operators confirm that the number of people leaving the valley has risen sharply in the past few days, prompting committees to arrange additional buses.

However, a shortage of vehicles has forced some passengers to pay higher fares or take risky travel options. Traffic police have intensified security checks at exit points and set up citizen assistance desks to ensure smooth travel. The Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police have warned operators against overloading vehicles or charging excess fares, emphasizing strict action will be taken against violators.

The Election Commission has urged all voters to exercise their franchise confidently. Meanwhile, electoral activity is picking up in villages, with candidates making their final efforts to reach voters.

To ensure election security, the government has imposed a restriction on non-essential vehicles from midnight Wednesday, urging travelers to reach their destinations well in advance.

As voters depart, Kathmandu’s streets have become unusually quiet, with minimal traffic on normally congested main roads. The exodus mirrors the patterns seen during major festivals like Dashain and Tihar, with thousands of passengers leaving daily through New Bus Park, Koteshwor, Kalanki, and Balkhu. Public holidays announced for voting, along with closures of schools, colleges, and offices, have contributed to this surge.

While residents remaining in the valley face some inconvenience due to limited transport, normalcy is expected to return once voting concludes and public holidays end.