Kathmandu, September 9

Chandra Man Shrestha, director general of the Department of Transport and Management (DoTM), has said a monitoring committee will be formed to check if transporters are charging passengers going against the government set rate.

Today’s meeting of DoTM, Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs and consumer rights activists has decided to form the committee comprising officials of DoTM, Traffic Police, transport entrepreneurs and consumer rights activists.

“The committee will be formed under the coordination of director level official of DoTM and action would be taken as per the law against those found cheating customers,” said Shrestha.

Customers have been facing the brunt of transporters arbitrarily charging fees, overloading than seat capacity and lack of monitoring over the wrongdoings. Going by the existing rules, DoTM and all its zonal offices, Zonal Transport Management Committee and Traffic Police have the authority to conduct monitoring over transport fare and implementation of the code of conduct and take action if transporters are found to be flouting rules.

As per the Vehicle and Transport Management Act, collection of higher charge from passengers than the fixed rate is illegal. If transporters are found to be doing so, they can be slapped a fine of Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000. DoTM officials said that they have not been able to conduct monitoring regularly due to lack of resources and workforce.