Valley
More than 120,000 apply for cab licence
A total of 120,053 people have applied for cab licence that the government has announced for earthquake victims, according the Department of Transport Management.A total of 120,053 people have applied for cab licence that the government has announced for earthquake victims, according the Department of Transport Management. The number is more than 80 times the government will be providing to the quake victims. It is bound to rise as the government has extended the deadline for submission of applications until Sunday.
The Cabinet had decided in June to provide 1,500 taxi operating licences to the quake victims from the 14 worst affected districts to help them provide a means of income.
The department, however, started accepting applications only from July 20 due to opposing from the existing transport entrepreneurs.
“We had not expected
applications. We expect the number will escalate on the last day,” said said Tilak Poudel, head of the Small
and Big Vehicles Division
at Bagmati Transport Management Office.
Poudel also made it clear that the government will neither wave off the customs duty for purchasing the cab nor provide any other discount to the victims.
People of all ages, including the elderly, from the affected districts have applied for the licence. Gorkha, Nuwakot, Dhading, Kavre, Sindhupalchok, Rasuwa, Dolakha, Ramechhap, Makwanpur, Sindhuli, Okhaldhunga, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur are the districts hardest hit by last year’s earthquakes.
Around 7,000 cabs are currently in operation in Kathmandu.
The application was opened to only those people with earthquake victim card. The government has also announced that the taxi registration numbers will be provided through a lucky draw.