Transport entrepreneurs suggest ways to improve public transport

KATHMANDU: Public transport entrepreneurs have suggested the government establish a competent transport authority for the improvement of public transport in the country.

Handing over a memorandum to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal at a meeting on Wednesday, transport entrepreneurs affiliated to the Republican Transport Entrepreneurs Association demanded that the registration of associations and committees in the transport sector should be resumed, a transport directorate or authority should be established, end unnecessary tax revenue on public transport vehicles, register vehicles as per the provinces and set up training centers for producing drivers.

The team led by the President of the Association, Gyanendra Shrestha, also called for abolition of the five percent value added tax imposed on transportation, including transport workers in the social security fund, investments in public transport and removal of the impractical traffic fine policy.

Likewise, the 20-year-scrap policy imposed on public vehicles should be reviewed to allow vehicles to be operated by looking at the ‘condition’ of the vehicles, and to end the system of allowing vehicles coming from India to operate in Nepal without restrictions, according to Treasurer of the Association Purushottam Simkhada.