The stranglehold of transportation syndicate on Tansen-Butwal route has made travelling experience miserable for the public.

Passenger vehicles that are not affiliated to Western Nepal Bus Operators Committee are not allowed to pick up passengers on the route, said Kamal Kharel, who travels through the road every other day.

“Passengers have no choice. They are compelled to travel on only those buses operated under the committee,” Kharel said.

As the committee only operates limited number of vehicles, passengers are forced to travel on jam-packed buses.

Lack of regular maintenance of buses is another major complaint made by travellers. They said the syndicate-run buses are  no match for other vehicles that ply the road but are not allowed to pick up passengers midway.

“The buses are old and rarely maintained. On top of that, they carry passengers beyond their capacity. Travelling is risky, but we have no other alternative,” said Dipak Nepal, a regular commuter.

“There are better and newer model vehicles available at Tansen Bus Park, but they are not for local passengers who are making a short commute.”

Flagging off vehicles that are not affiliated to the syndicate could have a violent outcome. If the syndicate members see a non-associated vehicle stopping to pick up a passenger in their area, they will not hesitate to vandalise that vehicle.   

“They will even admonish the passenger,” said Nepal, who himself has suffered a mistreatment or two  from the syndicate members in the past for stopping a vehicle from outside the area. “Police officers are there but they are not going to help you.”

Dil Bahadur Dhungana, chairman of Shreenagar Transport Operators Committee, believes that the syndicate system should be ended for passengers to experience better travelling experience and service.

 “It is no secret that the Western Nepal Bus Operators Committee loathe competition. This attitude has hit the transportation service in the region. But most of all, it is the passengers who are suffering. Unless the government intervenes with a headstrong approach transportation syndicate will continue,” said Dhungana.