Transport Entrepreneur Alleges Obstruction by Interest Groups After Securing Bank Loans for Trial Center

Kathmandu. Transport entrepreneur Dambar Bahadur Thapa has complained that administrative hassles and vested interest groups have continuously obstructed the work initiated after taking bank loans worth crores of rupees. Thapa lamented that he is being forced to become 'another Prem Acharya' due to a multi-pronged attack.

Speaking with some journalists on Wednesday morning, he stated that he has been working in the transport sector for 25 years. However, even though the court has cleared the way, he complained of non-cooperation from another state body, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).

After the Bagmati Province Government decided on Mangsir 12, 2080, to open three more trial centers, Thapa and a group of 15 individuals prepared infrastructure at Balaju (Manmaiju) in Kathmandu. They constructed a modern trial center on 18 ropanis of rented land using approximately 7 crore rupees in bank loans.

They initiated the necessary process after the Transport Management Office, Balaju, called for a tender on Mangsir 26. However, according to Thapa, the process was halted due to pressure from some old entrepreneurs and the then leadership. Although the High Court, Patan, ordered not to stop the process, he stated that the file has been stuck by filing a complaint at the CIAA. Although the CIAA took the related file some time ago, the investigation process could not move forward from the CIAA.

He stated that due to the file being held up for months, he has to bear a financial burden of over 22 lakh rupees monthly, including bank interest and land rent. Entrepreneur Thapa's grievance is that the delay in infrastructure construction and other factors has caused a loss of over 12 crore rupees so far, and the employment of 35 staff members associated with the organization is also at risk.

'Administrative settings and pressure from vested interest groups are crushing small investors like us to the point of being unable to rise,' Thapa said, 'If the government, judiciary, and civil society do not listen to our problems and deliver justice in time, I will be forced to become another 'Prem Acharya,' and those obstructing this will have to take responsibility for it.'

He urged the concerned bodies to investigate immediately and open the way for the operation of the trial center, arguing that the tendency to stop work based on baseless prejudice is damaging the investment climate in the country.