Transport Federation Suggests Additional Levies for Accident Relief Fund

Kathmandu. The umbrella organization of transport entrepreneurs, Nepal Yatayat Byabasayi Rashtriya Mahasangh, has suggested collecting an additional fee of one rupee per liter on petroleum products and one rupee per unit on electricity charging fees to strengthen the accident relief fund.

Submitting separate memorandums to the Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Sunil Lamsal, and the Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Sobita Gautam, the Mahasangh has suggested collecting additional fees for the establishment of an 'Accident Relief Fund' for the immediate rescue, treatment, and compensation of victims of vehicle accidents in the ongoing amendment process of the Transport Act.

Dhanak Gautam, General Secretary of the Mahasangh, informed that the government has been suggested to add one rupee per liter to petrol and diesel used by private and public vehicles operating across the country, and one rupee per unit of electricity consumed by electric vehicles.

In addition, proposals have been submitted to deposit one percent of the third-party insurance premium collected by insurance companies into the fund, and for the federal, provincial, and local governments to deposit a lump sum amount into the fund annually, he said.

General Secretary Gautam mentioned that the fund would help provide immediate relief to victims and manage treatment expenses in situations where insurance amounts are insufficient for the immediate rescue and treatment of the injured after an accident.

In cases where seriously injured individuals whose beneficiaries are not found in an accident need to be treated, or if the vehicle owner is unable to provide compensation, expenses will be covered by the fund. The Mahasangh has also urged that the suggestions they have provided be included in Chapter 10 of the Transport Act, 2083, which is currently being prepared.