Kathmandu, January 4
Seeking proper management and operations of the public transport sector, along with easing commute for passengers, public transport entrepreneurs have submitted a joint memorandum and placed 12 demands to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport.
Stating that the public transport sector is in dire straits as the public have not been able to receive standard service and the stakeholders are facing difficulties in recouping their investments, transport entrepreneurs have called on the MoPIT and concerned authorities to take initiatives for resolving the challenges in the sector.
The transport entrepreneurs have sought collaboration to address the issues and said they are ready to cooperate with the concerned bodies to improve the sector. They have said that the government also needs to be responsible alongside all its concerned departments and divisions.
They have demanded immediately scrapping of increased fines by the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office as Section 164 of the Vehicle and Transport Management Act states that an individual who violates traffic rules shall be fined Rs 500 for the first time, Rs 1,000 for the second and Rs 1,500 for the third traffic violation.
Entrepreneurs say that the decision made by traffic police to slap fine of Rs 1,500 for traffic violations is unacceptable and they have demanded that the rule be immediately scrapped.
They have also requested the government bodies to revoke the decision of penalising vehicle owners up to Rs 100,000 for vehicles that have not gone through the pollution check process when the standards of fuel and roads is not maintained.
Similarly, they have requested the government to categorise pick and drop stations as per their type and nature and incentivise public transport owners by providing free parking spaces.
Also, the entrepreneurs have requested amendment to Sub-section 2 of Article 161, Section 162, Section 163, and 164 alongside the introduction of necessary rules and regulations to remove the issues faced by transport entrepreneurs and enforce road safety measures.
The memorandum was submitted jointly by All Nepal Transport Workers Union, Federation of Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs, Nepal Taxi Drivers Association, and Independent Transport Workers Association of Nepal.
The ministry officials were not ready to immediately comment on the matter.
A version of this article appears in the print on January 5, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
