Transport Operators Warn: Will Collect Additional Fare If Government Fails to Increase Rates
Summary
- The National Federation of Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs has warned that if the government does not increase fares, they will impose higher fares themselves.
- The Department of Transport Management recommended an 11.33% fare increase for passenger vehicles, but the Ministry has not approved it.
- Following Nepal Oil Corporation’s decision to raise diesel prices by 10 rupees per liter, operators are pressing for fare hikes.
March 24, Kathmandu – Transport entrepreneurs have threatened to increase fares unilaterally if the government does not raise them.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the National Federation of Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs warned that they will declare and collect higher fares on their own. Although the Department of Transport Management recommended raising passenger vehicle fares by 11.33%, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has yet to authorize the increase, prompting the federation’s warning.
“Despite repeated requests for fare adjustment, no response has been received so far. Transport operators are incurring losses of millions of rupees daily to provide services, forcing some to consider shutting down operations. Since the Department of Transport Management has recommended fare adjustments, we see no alternative but to announce increased fares,” said Devnath Gautam, general secretary of the federation, in the released statement.
Transport entrepreneurs have intensified calls to raise fares following the Nepal Oil Corporation’s increase of 10 rupees per liter in diesel prices, effective from March 16.