Bagmati Province Public Accounts Committee Directs Reforms in Transport Sector

Hetauda. The Public Accounts Committee of the Bagmati Province Assembly has given various important directives to the provincial government and concerned ministries to end irregularities in the transport sector and make service delivery efficient. 

The 36th meeting of the committee held in Hetauda made a 9-point decision on transport, electric vehicles, and administrative reforms, informed Chairman Shriram Lamichhane. 

The committee has directed the Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Transport to expand additional trial centers within six months by completing the necessary procedures inside and outside the valley to make the service delivery in the transport sector easy and transparent. The committee has taken such a step after repeated complaints were received regarding trial centers.

Similarly, the committee has also asked to broaden the existing criteria as soon as possible to provide accessible services to the public by creating open competition for environment-friendly electric taxis. The government has been instructed to bring the machine for printing driving licenses (licenses) into operation within two months after its purchase and submit a report on it. 

The committee has emphasized completing this work in coordination with the federal government by exercising the sole authority of the province.

The meeting has cautioned the ministry to immediately start service by bringing the purchased equipment into use, citing the lack of charging stations as the number of electric vehicles increases.

 Likewise, directives have been given to implement separate fare rates for petroleum and electric vehicles, to place information boards, and to create an environment where service recipients are not cheated. 

The committee has also directed to provide services in accordance with the court's order regarding the certificate of good health required for driving licenses. 

A four-member subcommittee has been formed under the convenership of Honorable Indra Prasad Gotame to study the complaints in the transport sector and the implementation status of the committee's directives. Honorable members Matrika Prasad Bhattarai, Rajendra Prajapati, and Sarita Khadki are members of the subcommittee. This subcommittee has to submit its report by the end of next Shrawan.