Bajura, October 14

Jeep entrepreneurs have been cheating passengers along the Martadi-Kolti road section in Bajura.

It compels the passengers to pay Rs 1,500 individually for 41 kilometres in the road section.

Bajura District Administration Office had fixed the jeep fare at Rs 700. But jeep entrepreneurs have been charging passengers almost double the fixed rate. As many as 30 jeeps ply on the Martadi-Kolti road section on a daily basis.

The locals have been facing problems after the entrepreneurs started charging passengers arbitrarily taking advantage of the festival season.

Laxman Joshi, a local of Budhinanda Municipality-1, said the authority concerned was least bothered even though passengers were being cheated everyday in the name of jeep fare. “The passengers paid the demanded amount as they had to reach their homes on time for the festivals,” he added. Joshi said the jeeps were loaded beyond their capacity.

Meanwhile, Hikmat Rokaya, in-charge of Swamikartik Transport Entrepreneurs Union said they were charging more than the fixed rate as they had to repair vehicles that were damaged due to the rough and muddy road. “The vehicles have to ply at great risk due to the rough road,” he said.

Rokaya said vehicles could start operating at the fixed rate when the condition of the road improved.

Assistant Chief District Officer Khagendra Bahadur Malla said no complaint had reached his office regarding the jeep fare.