Valley
Next, taxis ‘will have to register as company’
Minister of Physical Infrastr-ucture and Trans-portation Raghubir Mahaseth on Monday said the government plans to register private taxis under companies. This move will eliminate the hegemony of transport cartels, the minister said.Minister of Physical Infrastr-ucture and Trans-portation Raghubir Mahaseth on Monday said the government plans to register private taxis under companies. This move will eliminate the hegemony of transport cartels, the minister said.
“Cartels that dominated private buses, mini-buses and mircobuses have already been eliminated. Now the government plans to register taxis as company,” said Mahaseth.
He stressed that there was no chance for the revival of cartels in Nepal’s public transport ever again.
The government has already decided to scrap route permits of bus operators who recently went on strike and protested by blocking traffic movement at several places in the city.
Agitated transporters recently held a series of protests against the decision to scrap their committees, associations and amendment of the Transport Management Directive (2004) that stipulates public transport operators must register as private companies.
“This decision is irrevocable. We are firm about our decision to end all cartels from public transport,” said the minister.
The government would listen to transporters’ grievances after they officially register as companies and start operations as per the law, he said. The government has given them three months to register with the Company Registrar Office.
“Transporters will have to complete the procedures within three months. We have noted their other concerns like difficulties to pay fees at transport offices. We are working on how these fees could be paid through government banks,” he said.
The government is also drafting standards for vehicles such as the quality of seats, capacity, dress code for vehicle staff, reservations for senior citizens, women, handicapped passengers, and rates within the next three months.
The minister issued a stern warning to transporters that the government would consider other options if they do not withdraw their protests and register under the existing companies Act.
The government is also mulling operating their own buses to alleviate commuting hassles for citizens.
“In such situation, we will not only bring new buses, if required, we will also deprive them of government facilities and securities,” said Mahaseth.
“We have also heard about financial irregularities by these transport entrepreneurs. We will investigate such misappropriation of their funds and file a case under the offence of asset laundering.”