Kathmandu, October 28:

Following the increase in the price of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) by Rs 200 per cylinder, gas-run microbuses and three-wheeler tempos have increased their transportation fare.

“We have already increased the fares of gas-run vehicles and preparing to declare it soon and planning to raise transportation fares by 15 per cent,” said Shanta Timilsina, president of Bagmati Zone Gas Tempo Entrepreneurs’ Association. He said no decision has been taken yet to increase transportation fares. He further said transport entrepreneurs were forced to raise fares on their own because they could not bear the loss.

However, director general of the Department of Transport Management (DoTM), Khagendra Mani Pokhrel, said that he would call a meeting of the fare determining committee on Tuesday.

Som Prasad Tulachan of the Microbus Entrepreneurs’ Association said that transportation fares have not been raised by diesel-run microbuses.

General secretary of the Federation of Nepali National Transport Entrepreneurs, Krishna Adhikary, said public vehicles run by gas have been directly affected with the decision, forcing them to raise fares.

Adhikary blamed the government for hiking the price of Liquified Petroleum Gas during the festive season and for delaying to increase transportation fares. “How long could transport entrepreneurs wait,” he questioned.

Timilsina said the government raised the price of LPG gas by 22 per cent and the price of spare parts, mobil and other lubricants were also increased.