Entrepreneurs here have complained they have been forced to pay double the official fare to truckers while transporting goods from the Sirsiya Dry Port to Bara-Parsa Industrial Corridor.

“The fare for around 15km distance has been increased to Rs17,000 per truck from Rs8,000,” complained an industrialist on condition of anonymity for fear of non-cooperation from the transporters.

In comparison, the fare for the 265km Birgunj-Kathmandu route has been maintained Rs22,000.

The truckers have imposed the new rate since the third week of August. The Parsa Transport Entrepreneurs Association has imposed a syndicate system and has barred industrialists from transporting goods from the dry port on their own vehicles.

The industrialists said the unilateral decision to hike the fare would increase the prices of goods, affecting the end consumers. The association had informed the Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) about the fare hike in  letter.

Ashok Vaidya, former president of BCCI, criticised the government for its failure to take action against those imposing the illegal syndicate system.

“We used to pay Rs250 per tonne,” said an industrialist involved in the manufacturing of iron and steel. “Now, they are charging Rs555.”

The truckers, however, said they were forced to charge higher after the traffic police got strict about truck load. A truck cannot carry more than 27 tonnes as per the official provision. However, they had been carrying up to 60 tonnes.

“So the new fare has been maintained as per the reduced load,” said Hareram Prasad Patel, general secretary of the association. “The truckers should not only be hit.”

DSP Ishwori Prasad Chapagain at Central Region Traffic Police Office, Pathalaiya, said they have adopted strict measures against overloading. “The truckers have been carrying more load than legally allowed,” he said.