KATHMANDU, Nov 10: The Metropolitan Traffic Police is taking action against those who take more than the prescribed fare in public transport.
The Bagmati Province Government had decided to increase the fare of public transportation from October 18. According to Santosh Rokka, Assistant Spokesperson for the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division (MTPD), the minimum fare has been fixed at Rs 18 but it was found that public transportation operators have been collecting Rs 20.
The public transport operators have been charging Rs 25 citing the lack of change instead of Rs 23, the actual fare. Despite the decision of the provincial government to increase the fare on the basis of kilometers, according to the passengers, public transport operators have been charging Rs 25 within a distance of four km. The government has fixed a fare of Rs 18 for four km distance.
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Although the complaints against the surcharging of the passengers have increased after the government decision to increase the fare, there has been no monitoring from the government authorities. Consumer rights activist Roshan Pokharel said that even though separate vehicles and staff were provided for monitoring the matter by the Department of Transport Management, no action has been taken.
According to Pokhrel, the last time when the government of Bagmati and Province 1 were sure to collapse, they increased the fares under the influence of transport entrepreneurs which has caused troubles to the passengers. Consumer rights activists say the new government has failed to address the public interest as it has not corrected the decision.
The federal government had also increased the fares of long-distance vehicles operating from one province to another on July 11 after the collapse of the government was confirmed. Passenger Rabina Malla said that the government of the five-party alliance, which was formed on July 13, hasn’t paid attention to the problems of the people.
MTPD, however, said that it was taking action against the vehicles that are overcharging the passengers. According to the division, initially, they took action against 20 to 25 public transports and now they are taking action against at least 10 to 15 public transports daily for charging a higher fare. Assistant Spokesperson Rokka said that people can contact the toll free number 103 of the Division if they find any public vehicle taking higher charges and that action will be taken against such entrepreneurs.
