Kathmandu, February 11
Transport entrepreneurs have demanded that the government withdraw its decision to increase the price of petroleum products.
They claim the government’s recent decision has made it impossible for the transporters to earn profits by operating public vehicles.
If the government does not revoke the price hike, it should introduce subsidies for public transporters or adjust the transport fare also, they argue.
Saroj Sitaula, the general secretary of the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE), says the federation will hold its meeting on Thursday afternoon to further clarify its opinion about the decision.
“The transport fare has not been adjusted scientifically since 2013,” he says, “It is not only fuel, but the prices of tyres and lubricants have also increased. But, the government is reluctant to adjust the transport fare accordingly.”
As the sector was severely hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, public transporters are not in a state to bear the fuel price hike, the entrepreneurs say.
