Kathmandu, June 2
Ride-sharing operators are found overcharging the service seekers, taking advantage of the halt in public transportation by transport entrepreneurs.
Although traffic police claim they have increased surveillance against those overcharging, as of writing this news, no action had been taken against anyone.
Today, around 9 AM, a motorcycle ride from Thapagaun to Buddhanagar—just a 1-kilometer distance—on a ride-sharing app in Kathmandu showed a fare of Rs 220. Similarly, the fare for a standard taxi was over Rs 700, while a premium taxi fare exceeded Rs 800.
In protest against the government’s decision to allow ride-sharing and self-drive services, the Central Struggle Committee to Save Public Transport has decided not to operate public vehicles with black number plates. As a result, with no public vehicles available, passengers are compelled to use ride-sharing apps such as Pathao, InDrive, iDrive, and Taximandu. Passengers have complained that some riders are exploiting the situation by charging exorbitant fares. This has caused inconvenience to ordinary citizens who need to travel for essential purposes.
One passenger who tried to use a ride-sharing app to travel from Sinamangal to Anamnagar said, “Just a day or two ago, the fare used to be around Rs 150, but today it doesn’t show anything below Rs 300 to 400.”
Superintendent of Police Deepak Giri, spokesperson for the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, stated that surveillance has been increased against those charging excessive fares. “We have deployed teams for on-site monitoring. If anyone is found to be overcharging, we will take action,” he said.
In response to the public transport halt, Nepal Police has started operating buses in the Kathmandu Valley. The service was launched after the general public faced difficulties due to the suspension of public transportation.
Similarly, the police have also issued a notice, warning ride-sharing apps not to overcharge service seekers. With that, the police has also urged passengers not to use offline ride-sharing services.
