Lumbini Province to Expand Transport Services to 12 Districts

Kathmandu. Transport management services will be provided from all 12 districts of Lumbini from the upcoming fiscal year. The Lumbini Provincial Government has decided to expand transport services by operating vehicle registration book renewal and temporary route permit services from 7 locations, including 6 districts where there is no transport management office.

The cabinet meeting held on Friday decided to provide vehicle registration book renewal and temporary route permit services from Gulmi, Arghakhanchi, Pyuthan, Rolpa, Rukum East, and Bardia, as well as from Ghhorahi in Dang, where there is no transport management office, informed Industry, Tourism and Transport Minister Prachanda Bikram Neupane.

 “The provincial government aims to provide services to citizens easily in accordance with the spirit of federalism,” said Minister Neupane, providing information about the cabinet decision. “In line with this goal of the government, it has been decided to operate vehicle registration book renewal and temporary route permit services in districts without transport management offices. This decision will provide great relief to the general public.”

If transport management services start from these districts as well, this service will be available from all 12 districts of the province. Due to the absence of transport service offices in these districts, the citizens there were compelled to travel to Dang, Banke, or Butwal for vehicle registration book renewal and temporary route permit services.

Citizens of Rukum East, Pyuthan, and Rolpa had to come to Dang to get services, while service recipients from Gulmi and Arghakhanchi had to go to Butwal. Similarly, service recipients from Bardia had to go to Nepalgunj in Banke. Now, service recipients will receive this service from the Cottage and Small Industry Office in their own district.

According to him, transport services will be provided through the District Cottage and Small Industry Offices under the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Transport. Service recipients in these places without transport management offices were facing significant hardship in obtaining vehicle registration book renewal and temporary route permit services. Seeing the expansion of transport services as essential, the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Transport had submitted a proposal to the cabinet for the expansion of these services.

Deciding on the ministry's proposal, the cabinet meeting has given approval to the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Transport to make necessary arrangements to start the service from the upcoming fiscal year.

“There has been a demand from service recipients and representatives for the expansion of transport services. Considering the problems faced by service recipients, we had submitted a proposal to the cabinet for the expansion of transport-related services,” said Minister Neupane. “The cabinet meeting has approved the ministry's proposal and decided to expand transport-related services, and the cabinet meeting has also given the ministry approval for management to be implemented from the upcoming fiscal year. Now we will focus on its complete management.”

The ministry will arrange for transport-related services to be provided through the District Cottage and Small Industry Offices.

Minister Neupane also informed that this arrangement will not increase the financial liability of the provincial government. “We have Cottage and Small Industry Offices under our ministry in every district. Services will be provided through these Cottage and Small Industry Offices in places where there is no transport management office,” said Minister Neupane. “Since the service will be provided by the currently available manpower of the Cottage and Small Industry Office, the financial liability of the provincial government will not increase, and service recipients will receive services from their own locality.”

The government expects that the expansion of transport management services will provide easy access to services for citizens and also increase government revenue. Minister Neupane had been consulting with Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya regarding the expansion of transport-related services.