Goods from India stranded at customs points

KATHMANDU:

Most of the goods brought from India and other countries are stranded at various customs points around the country after cargo vehicle operators stopped the movement of trucks citing that the government had failed to implement its decision to hike truck fares.

Operation of most of the trucks came to a halt from last Saturday after Nepal Truck Entrepreneurs Federation (NTEF) supported protests launched by various transport associations. Truck operators are demanding that the government properly implement revised fares, allocate parking space for trucks at various places around the country and discourage movement of India-registered trucks in Nepal.

“Of all the demands, we want the government to strictly enforce new truck fares immediately,” NTEF general secretary Rajendra Shrestha said.

The government earlier this year had increased truck fares plying on various routes across the country by up to 16.15 per cent and brought them into effect on March 8.

At that time trucks operating on Kathmandu-Birgunj route were allowed to collect one-way fare of Rs 21,197, while trucks plying on Kathmandu-Biratnagar route were allowed to collect Rs 21,651 as one-way fare. Fares on other routes across the country were also revised, with trucks operating on Kakadvitta-Mahendranagar route getting permission to collect the highest fare of Rs 46,670.

“Despite the hike, many entrepreneurs are refusing to make payments as per the revised rates,” Shrestha said. “For instance, entrepreneurs are paying only around Rs 16,000 to Rs 17,000 for trucks operating on Kathmandu-Birgunj and Kathmandu-Biratnagar routes,” he said.

“This is not enough to cover the cost incurred for the purchase of diesel.”

Many entrepreneurs are refusing to make payments based on revised tariff structure because supply of trucks has outstripped demand. It is said around 48,000 trucks operate across the country, while only around 60 per cent are active in their business. This has laid an opportunity for entrepreneurs to bargain, which has resulted in the reduction of fares.

“Yes, many trucks are ferrying goods by keeping a very thin profit margin. But we cannot let this carry on,” Shrestha said, urging the state to strictly monitor implementation of its decision to raise fares.

The government, on the other hand, has said it has not officially received anything from those who launched the protest.

“Yes, we have come to know about the protest but the protesters have not formally informed us about their protests and demands.

We, thus, have not been able to any action or call them for talks,” said director general of the Department of Transport Management Sudarshan Prasad Dhakal.

Issuing a statement today, Rupandehi Chamber of Industries urged the government to look into the matter and solve it, saying that the protest has severely affected the transport of goods from various customs points.

Source: THT