KATHMANDU: Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Raghubir Mahaseth has reaffirmed that action will be taken against Pappu Construction Company for its negligence in building the bridge on time.

Kin of victims of the boat capsize incident in Lal Bakaiya River on Wednesday lodged a complaint with the district administration of Rautahat seeking action against Pappu Construction, whose negligence they have cited as the reason behind the accident that occurred on August 25.

Speaking to journalists at Biratnagar Airport in Morang today, Minister Mahaseth asserted that an investigation commission would be formed to investigate into the matter, Rastriya Samachar Samiti reported.

Mahaseth, arguing that none should be above the law, said that the construction company should be brought to the ambit of law irrespective of who runs or owns the company.

The owner of the construction company is a federal parliamentarian, referring to which the Minister said that government would not lag behind in taking action against the concerned person despite his position. "Action would be taken against the culprit according to the suggestions furnished by the Commission," reiterated Minister Mahaseth.

According to him, all contractors had to bear the brunt of action of some 5 per cent of fraudulent contractors. He assured that public would have convenience some time after the roads and bridges are built.

Minister Mahaseth also shared that altogether 145 contractors were brought to book for their negligence or sub-standard constructions.

Furthermore, around Rs 150,000 to Rs 50 million were fined to the construction company entrepreneurs for their wrongdoings, according to the Minister.

He confessed that many construction works were delayed due to government procedure and said that the government, now onward, would call for tender only after issuing site clearance.

Minister Mahaseth informed that bank accounts of altogether 245 transportation entrepreneurs were ordered to block for operating syndicate and investigation were ongoing by the department of money laundering investigation.

He claimed that the syndicate in the public transportation had completely ended and all the public transports would be registered in the Company Registrar Office by mid-December.

The minister also said that a new provision had been put in place according to which public transportation plying the roads in urban areas and towns could ferry 20 per cent more passengers than its seating capacity, which he believed would end the over cramming of passengers in public transports. Overloading has been one of the factors behind road accidents, he added.

Admitting that syndicate still existed in public transports plying the roads along BP Highway, he shared that a 29-seat public bus would be launched on this route within three to four months.

According to him, around 400,000 of the 700,000 smart licences had already been issued by the Department of Transportation.

On a different note, regarding the issues of agitation launched by doctors, Minister Mahaseth said the government's attention was seriously drawn towards the issues raised by doctors.

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