KMC decision likely to make new taxis find new cities to ply
The 1,500 taxis that the earthquake victims will be getting as per a government decision might have to find a new city to ply, as the Kathmandu Metropolitan City has decided not to let them operate on Kathmandu roads.
The 1,500 taxis that the earthquake victims will be getting as per a government decision might have to find a new city to ply, as the Kathmandu Metropolitan City has decided not to let them operate on Kathmandu roads.
The Department of Transport Management (DoTM) started distributing taxi permits to quake victims of 14 districts on Wednesday.
But in a bid to check the problem of traffic congestion, the newly elected executive body of the KMC on Tuesday decided not to allow additional taxis in the metropolis.
The KMC decision came just a day ahead of the government’s pre-announced programme of distributing taxi permits to the earthquake affected people.
As per the programme, the Department of Transport Management (DoTM) on Wednesday handed over 491 taxi opeartion permits to the earthquake survivors of Kavre, Nuwakot and Ramechhap districts through a lucky draw event in Lalitpur.
If the KMC enforces its decision, taxis with new operation permits will not be allowed in Kathmandu.
DoTM officials say the decision to distribute taxi permits to the earthquake affected people was taken by the government two years ago.
“It is too late now,” said DoTM Director General Rupnarayan Bhattarai.
He added: “Still, we will forward the KMC’s decision to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport. I hope the government and the KMC will work out some solution.”
The KMC officials say the metropolis has neither the plan nor the space to accommodate additional taxis.
“Introducing additional taxis is only going to make the problem of traffic congestion worse,” said KMC Spokesperson Gyanendra Karki. “Plus, it goes against our plan to adopt mass transit system in the Capital. We already have enough taxis, tempos and microbuses.”
DoTM, meanwhile, is preparing to distribute the remianing taxi opeartion permits to the earthquake affected people of Dolakha, Sindhuli, Sindhupalchok, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Makwanpur, Dhading, Okhaldhunga, Gorkha, and Rasuwa.
According to the DoTM, 8,500 taxis are plying the streets of Kathmandu Valley at present.
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