Himalayan News Service

Hetauda, March 7:

With the declaration of an end of the syndication system, transportation cost has increased.

The Narayani Transporters’ Association (NTA) last Monday announced the end of syndicate system after the Transport Management Committee, Parsa, urged transport entrepreneurs to stop syndication. Now, transport charge of goods from Hetauda to Kathmandu has increased from Re 1 per kilo to Rs 1.50. Officials at the Hetauda Cement Factory said they paid Rs 12,000 to Rs 14,000 for transporting 10 tons of cement today. Earlier, it cost only Rs 10,000.

A meeting called by the Transport Management Committee, Parsa, last Monday urged an end to the syndication system and the Parsa Chief District Officer and the TMC president Narendra Raj Poudel implemented it.

DAO-Makawanpur issued a circular to several organisations yesterday to resort to open and competitive market for transportation of goods. Hira Lal Shrestha, the president of Narayani Transport Entrepreneurs’ Association (NTEA) said the raise in fare was the first impact of the end of syndicate system. Shrestha said, “Under the syndicate system, we were giving the chance to carry load on ‘first come, first chance’,” adding they were against the idea of ending the syndication system because the local traders did not want it. Transportation fair has increased because the entrepreneurs have been demanding fares on their will. “Now it is the government who will have to work out to solve the problem. We will accept the payment if businessmen are ready to pay,” Shrestha said.