Transport entrepreneurs reduce bus fare in Myagdi and Lamjung

By Thakur Prasad Acharya,Myagdi, Sept. 20: Public transportation fares in the Myagdi district have been reduced just ahead of the Dashain festival. 

A meeting of the District Temporary and Fare Determination Committee held at the District Administration Office fixed new fares for buses, jeeps, and taxis operating on blacktopped, earthen, and gravel roads within the district.

According to Chief District Officer Badri Prasad Tiwari, fares on the Beni-Jomsom blacktopped road have been set at Rs. 11 per kilometre for buses and Rs. 15 for jeeps. Similarly, fares for buses on the Beni-Darbang and Beni–Ratnechaur routes have been fixed at Rs. 10 per kilometre, while jeeps will charge Rs. 15.

On other earthen and gravel roads, bus fares have been set at Rs. 18 and jeep fares at Rs. 25 per kilometer. Passenger taxis will charge Rs. 17 per kilometre on blacktopped roads and Rs. 30 on earthen roads. In rural areas with paved or semi-paved roads, the fares have been fixed at Rs. 14 for buses and Rs. 18 for jeeps.

All local governments are required to calculate distance-based fares for their respective areas and publicly display them. Passengers must pay according to the kilometres traveled. Transport operators who overcharge or carry passengers beyond capacity will face legal action.

Representatives of political parties, local governments, the Myagdi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, security agencies, and transport entrepreneurs attended the meeting. Transport operators also pledged to implement the revised fares. The sub-committee responsible for fare adjustments was coordinated by Assistant CDO Anisha Acharya.

Residents had long demanded adjustments, saying fares remained the same as for earthen roads even after blacktopped roads were built.

Slight revision in Lamjung

Meanwhile, our District Correspondent, Nabin Raj Kuinkel from Lamjung, wrote that the Lamjung District Transport Management Committee has fixed new public transport fares. The decision was made at a meeting chaired by Chief District Officer Madhav Prasad Pokhrel on Thursday.

Earlier, a committee coordinated by Assistant CDO Thaman Singh Gautam was formed under the Transport Management Act 2049 (1992) to address transport issues and recommend fare adjustments.

Complaints had been mounting that transport operators were charging arbitrary fares despite existing rates. Although most fares remain unchanged, some have been revised. The Besisahar–Dumre (Tanahun) bus fare remains Rs. 185, while the Besisahar–Udipur–Chiti–Tilahar–Hilebesi route has been set at Rs. 210 for buses and Rs. 250 for jeeps, compared to the previous Rs. 180 and Rs. 215 respectively.

Citizens had long complained about operators ignoring official rates and charging more. Gautam assured that the new fares would be enforced and monitored daily by the traffic police, with penalties for non-compliance. Representatives from the District Coordination Committee and other stakeholders were present at the meeting.