Lumbini EVs stuck due to legal barriers

Butwal, August 19 - Electric vehicles purchased by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the Lumbini Development Trust to transport tourists have been stalled in Lumbini for the past five years.

 ADB provided 14 electric buses and five vans in 2020, but these vehicles have been impounded due to various legal procedures.

Dr. Lharkyal Lama, Vice Chairman of the Lumbini Development Trust, informed Ratopati that although ADB delivered the vehicles in November 2020 as part of an agreement, the vehicles have not been operational due to legal issues. Dr. Lama said, “The delay was caused by various procedural requirements. We are now working to resolve these issues so that the vehicles can be put into service.”

Dr. Haridhwaj Rai, Information Officer at the Lumbini Development Trust, explained that it took approximately three years to transfer the vehicles to the Trust. The vehicles, which have white number plates, face additional challenges in carrying tourists. Efforts to obtain green number plates through the transport and vehicle management office were halted because the Traffic Management Office in Butwal stated that the Motor Vehicle and Traffic Management Act does not permit changing government number plates to any other type.

Minister Dinesh Panthi, Spokesperson for the Lumbini Province Government, said that a thorough review will be conducted to address the issue and facilitate the operation of the electric buses in Lumbini.

The Lumbini Development Trust plans to lease the electric vehicles provided by ADB to cover operational costs. Discussions are underway to finalize the lease agreements. The Trust aims to ensure a regular income stream for the sustainable operation of the vehicles. ADB provided these electric vehicles to promote eco-friendly tourism in Lumbini.

Currently, Lumbini Development Fund staff and officials are using small vans provided by ADB to transport tourists, while the buses remain unused.

With the Gautam Buddha International Airport now operational and increasing tourist numbers in Lumbini, stakeholders stress the need for electric vehicles. However, Sagar Adhikari, former president of NATA Lumbini, told Ratopati that despite donor support, the Lumbini Development Fund has yet to put the buses into operation.

The 19-seater buses and 5-seater vans, equipped with card payment facilities, air conditioning, and accessibility features for disabled passengers, are capable of traveling up to 400 kilometers on a full charge.