Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, January 12:

A meeting of the Fare Fixing Committee held here today under the chairmanship of Shankar Prasad Dhungana, director general of the Department of Transport Management, decided to raise the fare for long route buses by 15 per cent and medium route by 20 per cent.

Senior vice-president of the Federation of Nepalese Transport Entrepreneurs Bhairav Man Shrestha said representatives of the Federation of Nepali National Transport Entrepreneurs, Consumers’ Forum Nepal and Bureau of Standards and Metrologyalso attended the meeting. The meeting decided to increase city bus fares by Rs 2. It also includes tempos and microbuses. Similarly, initial bill in meter taxis has been increased from previous seven rupees to eight and three rupees will be raised as against the previous Rs 2.80 in every 200 meters. Shrestha said the Department will inform all the concerned bodies about the fare hike tomorrow.

New fares:

• A 15 per cent hike in long-route bus fare and 20 per cent in medium-route buses

• Rs 2 has been increased in the fares of city buses, tempos and microbuses

• Initial bill in meter taxis has been raised to Rs 8 from the previous Rs 7 while the taxi fare per 200 metres has been raised to Rs 3 from the previous Rs 2.80

NTDA plans taxi stir

KATHMANDU:

The Nepal Taxi Drivers Association (NTDA) has announced a taxi strike from 8 am to 10 am on Thursday, pledging to bring vehicular traffic to a grinding halt. The stir has been announced as part of a move to protest the hike in petroleum prices. The association has also announced a general strike on Friday. — HNS