Kathmandu's Urban Transport Authority to Gain Expanded Powers

The Nepalese government is preparing a draft amendment to the Urban Area Public Transport (Management) Authority Act, 2023, to grant the Urban Area Public Transport Authority (UAPTA) full decision‑making powers over the capital’s transport system. The proposed law would let UAPTA set routes, issue, renew and revoke licences, determine service schedules and fares, and introduce a legally recognised cash‑less fare system.

The amendment also centralises control of transport infrastructure, allowing UAPTA to decide locations for bus parks, stops, terminals, depots, bus lanes, parking lots, passenger waiting rooms, electric‑vehicle charging stations and traffic signage. It would enable the authority to contract service providers for peak‑hour, night or special services, offer subsidies where needed, and procure consultancy and other services under existing procurement and PPP legislation. The council’s chair will be the federal Transport Minister, the senior vice‑chairman the Transport Minister of Bagmati Province, and a vice‑chairman will be elected alternately from the mayors of Kathmandu and Lalitpur.