Department of Transport Management Proposes Another Public Transport Fare Hike

Kathmandu. The Department of Transport Management has proposed to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport to adjust public transport fares again, less than two weeks after the last revision.

According to departmental sources, the department recommended on Wednesday an adjustment of 9.8 percent for passenger vehicles, and approximately 14 percent for cargo vehicles in hilly regions and 12 percent in the Terai region.

On Chaitra 25, the department had adjusted fares for inter-provincial public transport. Considering 13 indicators, the department had increased passenger transport fares by 16.71 percent, cargo transport fares in hilly regions by 21.68 percent, and cargo transport fares in the Terai region by 15.75 percent.

Since then, transport entrepreneurs have been demanding a fare hike, citing two subsequent increases in fuel prices. Due to rising petroleum prices in the international market caused by the conflict in West Asia, the Nepal Oil Corporation increased the price of diesel and kerosene by 30 rupees per liter, effective from Baishakh 3. The price of petrol remained unchanged. Previously, on Chaitra 26, the price of diesel had increased by 25 rupees and petrol by 17 rupees.

Entrepreneurs have been pressuring the government to increase fares, stating that the price of diesel alone has risen by 55 rupees per liter.