Truckers impose syndicate system on Birgunj-KTM route
BIRGUNJ, JUN 09 -
Truckers operating on the Birgunj-Kathmandu route have almost doubled transport fares by imposing the illegal syndicate system (odd-even number plate system).
The transporters have been charging Rs 34,000-Rs 36,000 per truck, according to traders, much higher than the government-fixed Rs 19,500 per truck.
Given a large volume of essential goods such as medicines stuck in Birgunj due to the general strikes before the dissolution of Constituent Assembly and traders requiring to deliver the goods as soon as possible, truckers doubled the fare to take unfair benefit of the situation.
Truckers hiking the fares include those affiliated to Narayani and Tarai transport service. Seeking to make up for their losses they suffered during the strike, transporters created ‘artificial’ shortage of trucks to hike the fares, traders say.
Traders have said this will the trigger inflation. “The increased transport costs will be eventually passed on to consumers,” said Ashok Temani, president of the Birgunj Chambers of Commerce and Industry (BCCI).
The fare hike, however, has invited protests from those transporters who deliver goods by leasing trucks. After not being able to rent trucks, they have stopped load-unload service from Friday for an indefinite period. Harend-ra Sah, president of the Nepal Transport Associati-on Parsa, said truck and tanker entrepreneurs have increased fares arbitrarily.
Prashant Shrestha, secretary of the transporters’ association, said they were not against the move as truckers were said to have increased the fares only for a few days after the strike. “However, they have now made the hiked fare permanent,” he said.
The illegal syndicate system has created shortage of cargo carriers, forcing traders pay high for delivery services. “It has been impossible to get service at the government-set fare,” said an industrialist. “As the market has opened after days of strike, we are not in position to store goods in Birgunj.”
When asked about the fare hike, the Federation of Truck, Tanker and Transport Entrepreneurs Nepal, no institutional decision has been taken to increase cargo fares. “We will discuss this issue at the federation,” said Hira Lal Shrestha, vice president of the federation.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
