KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 4
Despite the Dashain festival being less than a month away, the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE) has not opened advanced booking of bus tickets for long-distance commuters.
According to the federation, the opening date for booking bus tickets has not been decided as transport entrepreneurs are not in a position to provide services under the present circumstances unless the government accepts their demands.
Dekhnath Gautam, spokesperson for FNNTE, said, "We want the concerned authorities to reduce the various types of taxes added on fuel purchase including road development tax, infrastructure tax, pollution tax, among others, at least for the time being," he said.
The FNNTE has also raised the issue of road maintenance in Kathmandu-Dhangadi, Butwal-Narayanghat and Mugling-Narayanghat sections.
"Also, although an agreement was reached with the government that transport entrepreneurs would only have to pay 60 per cent route tax if they provided discount to senior citizens, disabled and children, some provinces continue to levy full route tax," he complained.
Gautam also said that despite there being a provision to revise the fares if the fuel rates change by five per cent, the government has not made any adjustment even as diesel price has surged by almost 13 per cent since the last fare revision.
"We do not want the government to increase the bus fares as it will quicken inflation. However, we want the government to revise the fuel prices by reducing the taxes imposed on it. If the government continues to remain mum, we will be forced to hold a gathering within mid-September, apologise to the public, and shut our services," Gautam informed The Himalayan Times.
Consumer rights activists, meanwhile, complained that consumers have been unable to benefit from the drop in fuel prices in the international markets.
"We have all read about how the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is buying fuel at a discounted rate from Russia, but the IOC is selling fuel to Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) at an increased price.
It is difficult to say whether the IOC is cheating NOC or if the NOC is cheating the public," Prem Lal Maharjhan, president of National Consumers Forum, said.
He also lamented that the ruling coalition government has turned a blind eye to the 'daylight robbery', which has made the lives of the general public all the more difficult.
Earlier, the NOC had issued a notice stating that it owes Rs 21 billion to the IOC for the purchase of petroleum products. The amount to be paid to the IOC has increased due to NOC's failure to make timely payment after facing heavy losses in the sale of petroleum products.
On Thursday, the NOC had hiked the prices of diesel and kerosene by six rupees per litre.
Shyam Kumari Majhi, a resident of Sunsari, shared that the increase in bus fares and the difficulties in procuring the tickets have become an annual plight.
"Just before COVID-19, it would cost Rs 1,100 per ticket to travel to my hometown. The rate has gone up to over Rs 1,500 for a ticket," she said. "With the festival in sight, I won't be surprised if it goes up again," she added.
Calls to the officials of the Department of Transport Management went unanswered.
A version of this article appears in the print on September 5, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.