Sooner the better

There is no justification for further delaying ride-hailing services’ regulations.

Navigating the chaotic streets of Kathmandu would be a lot harder without online ride-sharing services like Pathao, InDrive and Tootle. Not only have they eased navigation and provided countless jobs. They are also safe and convenient means of transport for women. These services are handy, too, as they can be booked within a minute through online apps. Hence, their popularity continues to grow—Pathao now facilitates more than 150,000 rides and deliveries daily and is available in 18 cities across Nepal, in all seven provinces. More than 200,000 people are engaged with the platform, including over 90,000 bike riders, 10,000 taxi drivers and 5,000 delivery personnel. InDrive, another popular service launched in Nepal in April 2024 after unofficially operating for two years, serves users in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan.