Kathmandu, October 14

Public vehicles in Kathmandu Valley have been found to be overcharging their passengers, taking advantage of reduced movement of public transport during Dashain festival.

“Public buses have been overcharging their passengers. While some are charging more than the normal transport fare, others have stopped providing the stipulated discounts to students and the elderly,” said Sushant Nayaju, a local of Bhaktapur.

Nayaju also complained that public buses and other vehicle overcharged passengers not only during Dashain but also during other festivals.

“I carry my student identity card with me every time I take a public transport, but they refused to offer concession that students are entitled to. We have been paying fare without any discount even as the Dashain festival

is now almost over,” complained Nayaju.

Similarly, another Valley commuter Dev Bahadur Ghimire, 76, said, “We don’t have any idea about the normal fare for the elderly as all public buses have been overcharging us. Those operating the vehicles are not offering us concession even as we produce our senior citizen’s identity card.”

According to the passengers, buses plying from Banepa, Dhulikhel, Bhaktapur to Kathmandu have been collecting more than the normal fare.