Public transport fare decreases in Bagmati province

The public transport fare has decreased in Bagmati Province, including in the Kathmandu Valley. The Ministry of Labour, Employment and Transport has reduced the fare, nine days after Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) slashed the price of diesel.

The Ministry has decreased the fare of public transport vehicles operating on short routes within the Bagmati Province. The reduced transport fare has been published in the Nepal Gazettee.

According to the public transport latest fare determined by the Ministry, the fare has been decreased by 5.9 per cent in the Kathmandu Valley, and by 4.18 per cent in public vehicles and by 5.69 per cent in goods-carrier vehicles operating in short routes in places outside the Valley, said Asman Tamang, Secretary at the Ministry.

"The reduced public transport fare would come into effect from today itself as it has already been published in the Gazette," he said.

The transport entrepreneurs had determined the fare on their own before this as the public transport fare of vehicles operating on short routes was not increased even as the price of diesel went up. The public transport fare of only vehicles operating on long routes was increased at that time.

NOC had reduced the price of diesel effective from Wednesday last week. Immediately after this the government had increased the public transport fare on vehicles operating on long routes. The transport fare of long route or inter-province is determined by the federal government while that of the short route or inter-municipality is fixed by the province government.

The NOC on April 3 slashed the price of diesel and kerosene by Rs 10 each per litre and by three rupees per litre of petrol. It reduced the price of diesel and petrol by Rs 10 each per litre effective from last Wednesday. As per the reduced fuel price, diesel costs Rs 155 per litre.

The transport fare of public transport vehicles operated in short routes within the province was increased last year. As per the increased transport fare, passengers are charged Rs 20 upon boarding the public bus in Kathmandu Valley.

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