KATHMANDU, AUG 08 -
The government has set the maximum fares that freight carriers can charge on 47 routes across the country. The new rates were published in a newspaper on Tuesday.
On July 16, the government had hiked fares of public transport and freight carriers, citing diesel price rise. At that time, the charge was increased by 4.45 percent to Rs 4.34 per ton per km on Tarai routes and by 4.50 percent to Rs 9.78 per ton per km on hilly routes.
As per the new rate, trucks and tankers are not allowed to charge more than Rs 19,847 per trip on the Birgunj-Kathmandu route. However, truckers have long been charging over Rs 25,000 on the route imposing the odd and even number plate system, creating artificial shortage of cargo carriers.
Chandra Prasad Phuyal, director at the Department of Transport Management, said the set maximum charge was determined on the basis of the recent adjustment on fare rates. “We have also asked all zonal offices to carry out monitoring with the help of traffic police to check arbitrary charging,” he said.
Fares for Bhairahawa-Kathmandu and Biratnagar-Kathmandu routes have been set at Rs 20,238 and Rs 31,896, respectively. On the Birgunj-Pokhara route, truckers can charge a maximum of Rs 17,989 per trip. The maximum charges on Nepalgunj-Kathmandu, Mahendranagar-Kathmandu and Dhangadhi-Kathmandu routes have been set at Rs 31,026, Rs 38,160 and Rs 36,899 per trip, respectively.
However, the department has not fixed the fare for the Tatopani-Kathmandu, a crucial trade route. Department officials said they would continue setting fares for additional routes in future based on the requirement.
In a bid to control possible cheating by transporters, the department has said it would carry out inspection at least once a month involving representatives from transport entrepreneur organisations and consumer rights activists.
Truckers said despite the fixation of the maximum fares, transporters in many routes were charging less than the fixed amount due to increased competition. “The government has fixed the fare at around Rs 21,000 for Bhairahawa-Kathmandu, however, we are charging only around Rs 19,000 per trip,” said Rajendra Shrestha, general secretary of the Federation of Truck, Tanker and Transport Entrepreneurs Nepal.
Going by the government rules, transport entrepreneurs are responsible to operate transport service in a fair and competitive way. If a transporter is found charging more, the truckers’ federation can also take action.
Phuyal said a special team under the coordination of the department was considering carrying out monitoring at major points such as Butwal and Hetauda.
New Rates
Route Distance Maximum Fare
Birgunj-Kathmandu 274 km Rs 19,847
Bhirahawa-Kathmandu 283 km Rs 20,238
Birgunj-Pokhara 255 km Rs 17,989
Kakkadbhitta-Kathmandu 610 km Rs 34,463
Biratnagar-Kathmandu 551 km Rs 31,896
Nepalgunj-Kathmandu 531 km Rs 31,026
Mahendranagar-Kathmandu 695 km Rs 38,160
Janakpur-Pokhara 356 km Rs 22,382
Dhangadhi-Kathmandu 647 km Rs 36,899
Lahan-Pokhara 380 km Rs 23,426
Source: Department of Transport Management
Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/08/08/business/govt-sets-maximum-cargo-fares/358450/
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