JUMLA, July 27: As long- and short-distance means of public transport have started to operate in Jumla district, passengers have expressed their woes regarding the transport entrepreneurs charging unreasonable fares for the services.
Earlier, the local government had fixed the fares of public transport without problems for both transport entrepreneurs and passengers, stating that their fares were expensive. However, the rule could not be implemented.
Those surcharging passengers to be punished
The passengers have been badly affected by the ideas of transport entrepreneurs, Jagat Bahadur Pariyar, a local resident, said. “They demand higher fares from passengers accordingly. If anyone tries to speak against them, they drop them off in the middle of the road,” he said.
There is a need for reforms in transport fares from the local government without creating problems for both transport entrepreneurs and passengers. “Without any action, passengers will continue to suffer at the hands of transport entrepreneurs,” Pariyar said.
Many lives have been disrupted by the spread of COVID-19. It has been over a month since the means of public transport have started their operations, but the local administration has not monitored them yet. Due to this, transport entrepreneurs are doing as they like in terms of increasing the fares.
Prior to these incidents, the bus fare from Khalanga in Jumla cost Rs 900, Jumla to Nepalgunj cost Rs 1,069 and Rs 2,000 for Jumla to Kathmandu. Now, a jeep fare costs from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500 while a bus fare costs around Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000. “They increase the fares as much as they like, but there is no one to speak against it,” Sishir Thapa, a passenger, said.
