Kathmandu, August 12

The government has received more than 4,000 applications from individuals wishing to operate new taxis in Kathmandu Valley. The number of applications is more than double the quota of 1,850 taxis to be added in the first phase.

After a gap of 15 years, the government is registering new cabs that will allow the general public, individuals wishing to be self-employed, and taxi entrepreneurs to operate the service. The Transport Management Office, Bagmati has stated that a total of 2,221 applications have been filed by aspirants to be self-employed by operating taxis.

Similarly, more than 1,900 individuals have submitted their applications to register cabs in their name and around 100 taxi entrepreneurs filed their applications. The transport management office started accepting applications from interested individuals from August 5 by allocating 700 taxis for general people, 500 units for those having ‘B’ category driving licence and wishing to be self-employed, and 650 for taxi entrepreneurs.

The deadline for application submission is on August 19. Officials of the transport management office said that they were receiving encouraging response from the applicants and total application is likely to be around 10,000. However, the number of applications from existing taxi operators is less mainly because of the ongoing protest of taxi entrepreneurs and drivers.

Many applicants have submitted applications in both categories — the 500-quota targeted for individuals wishing to be self-employed and 700-quota set aside for normal people.

One such applicant is Arun Nepali who filed his applications under the 500-quota in his name and in the quota for 700 individuals in his wife’s name. As the number of applicants has exceeded the quota, the government has a plan to issue permits to operate new taxis through a lucky draw.

“If I get a chance, I can seek partners and operate the taxi or sell it too,” said Sampur Ramtel, a farmer who had applied for new cab registration under the quota for general people today. He is eyeing a Hyundai car costing around Rs 1.6 million for the purpose.

Currently, Hyundai and Maruti Suzuki have being receiving bookings for new taxis. Maruti Suzuki’s Alto, which costs around Rs 1.6 million, and Hyundai’s EON DLite (Rs 1.55 million) and EON DLite+ costing Rs 1.67 million are the popular choices among those seeking to operate new taxis.

The vehicle dealers have provided facilities like 30 per cent minimum down payment in the beginning and 9.5 per cent interest rate for loan tenure of five years. Currently, there are around 5,600 taxis of different brands, including the 800cc Maruti Suzuki in operation in the Valley.

Protest continues

KATHMANDU: Taxi operators who are against the decision to add new taxis have been staging their protest in front of Transport Management Office, Bagmati since August 7. They have demanded that the government cancel the decision to add new cabs. As part of the protest, they have kept around 2,000 taxis parked in the Ring Road area near the transport management office, which has resulted in a shortage of cabs that are considered easy transport service, especially at times of emergencies.