Kathmandu, October 4

Although the government claims to be acting tough against unscrupulous transport entrepreneurs, people using public vehicles have complained that they are being charged exorbitant fares.

Passengers said they were being charged more by public vehicles taking advantage of their helplessness. With a large number of people leaving the Valley to join their family for Dashain, fewer vehicles are plying the streets in the capital.

As a result, even students are not being offered discount, while vehicles can be seen openly flouting the route system.

Ram Sundar Shrestha, who had arrived in Bhrikutimandap to make purchases for Dashain, said, “It was very difficult to get a bus from Kalanki to Ratnapark as all the buses are crammed with passengers.

Earlier, we used to pay Rs 15 for travelling from Kalanki to Ratnapark, but the buses are charging Rs 20 for the same distance now.”

Anita Basnet, who travelled from Jorpati to Ratnapark, shared a similar story. She said, “A bus coming from Jorpati to Ratnapark charged me Rs 30 instead of Rs 20 from Bauddha to Ratnapark.”

The Department of Transport Management has fixed the fare for this route at Rs 18.

Spokesperson for DoTM Basant Adhikari admitted that fewer vehicles were plying the streets in the capital, but vowed to take action against vehicles overcharging passengers. “If any public bus is found fleecing passengers, we will slap a fine of Rs 5,000,” he said.

Meanwhile, police have been able to return excess fares charged by transport workers to passengers travelling by jeep and micro buses to Okhaldhunga, Sindhuli, Solukhumbu, Khotang, and Kakadbhitta in Chabahil, Kathmandu.

The transport workers were taking advantage of people’s compulsion to go to home for Dashain. The Central Police Newsroom said the concerned vehicles had taken Rs 100 to Rs 400 per ticket.

The police added that 68 TATA Sumo were forced to return return excess fares.