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Transport entrepreneurs demand government to allow more passengers than capacity seats

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Kathmandu, September 28, 2016: Transport entrepreneurs have asked the government to allow them to carry more passengers than capacity seats in vehicles.

As many people leave Kathmandu to celebrate Nepal’s greatest festival Dashain, transport operators aim to make quick bucks by putting passengers more than capacity seats.

Not allowing more passengers than capacity seats will make it difficult to operate vehicles during Dashain, Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs Association Chairman Dolnath Khanal told Lokaantar.

Transport committees at different routes have blocked issuance of tickets as they could not put more passengers than capacity seats.

“Existing vehicles cannot bear the rush of passengers during Dashain,” Khanal said. “New vehicles refuse to ply roads if they are disallowed to put more passengers than capacity seats and on roofs.”

Entrepreneurs argue that running vehicles merely on capacity seats will not bear fuel expenses. “Either the government has to allow more passengers than capacity seats or provide fuel to transport operators.”

Will take action: Government

Meanwhile, the government has reiterated its commitment to take stern action against transport entrepreneurs that carry more passengers than capacity seats.

“We cannot tolerate any discomfort caused to passengers just because transport operators want to make profits,” Department of Transport Management’s Director General Chandraman Shrestha said.

He suggested transport entrepreneurs to act under laws and rules.

Tickets in short supply

Passengers leaving Kathmandu have to face difficulties regarding bus tickets in Dashain this time. The Association has said that passengers will not get ticket within few days.

More than 30 percent tickets have been sold out. That is 150,000 tickets.

The government has surmised that around 1.5 million people will leave Kathmandu this Dashain.

By Subash Bhatta