Transport operators charge fares arbitrarily along resumed Karnali Corridor

By Premraj Simkhada

Kalikot, Nov. 16: The Kalikot section of the Karnali Corridor came to a complete halt for 33 days after it was damaged by the floods and landslides triggered by excessive rain for several days in the third week of October. 

At least 13 landslides were recorded in the 15-km Lalighat-Shantighat section of the 42 km corridor in Kalikot.

The authorities have allowed vehicular movement after clearing the obstructions and repairing the damages recently. 

People who had returned to their home villages  for Dashain festival were bound to return on foot as the vehicular movement came to a complete halt after the landslides damaged roads.

However, transport operators have been demanding exorbitant fare from passengers. Commuters complained that the travel had been troublesome even though the vehicular movement along the corridor resumed after more than a month.

Before Dashain, the District Administration Office of Kalikot had adjusted the fare for public transport in the district. 

The fare was increased by Rs. 26 per kilometre then. 

According to the passengers, they are demanded 50 per cent more than the increased fare. 

“After the increase in fare, it costs Rs. 726  to pass through the 31km  Lalighat-Palata section of the corridor. However, passengers are demanded Rs. 1,600. It is 120 per cent more,” complained Surendra Bahadur Shahi, a construction businessman from Ward No. 8 of Pachaljharana Rural Municipality.

Meanwhile, transport operators have demanded more fare only in some road sections in Kalikot.

“I have heard that the vehicles operating in Palata-Pachaljharana section are charging exorbitant fare in the nexus of the ticket counter officials and transport operators. We haven’t charged any extra fare from our counter,” said Devnath Yogi, an official at the ticket counter for Serachaur-Raskot.

When concerned authorities were asked about the problem faced by commuters, they assured to look into it.

“We will deploy officers along the route. 

We have requested the passengers to inform us if they were charged more. Any vehicle demanding more than the set fare will be punished,” said Laxmi Raj Joshi, chief of Kalikot District Traffic Police.

Nevertheless, transport operators argued that they were demanding more fare because of the damaged condition of the road and risky travel.

According to them, the Road Division and other authorities removed only the debris without repairing the road properly.