Bagmati Pradesh Government Increased Public Transportation Fare Rate

The Bagmati Pradesh government has increased the fare of public transport with effect from 2078 Kartik 1 (18th October 2021). The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development of the state government has fixed the new fare with effect from 1st Kartik 2078.

Accordingly, one will have to pay Rs. 18 for public transport in Kathmandu Valley. This fare will be applicable up to 5 kilometers.

The fare will be Rs 23 for 10 km, Rs 27 for 15 km, Rs 30 for 20 km, and Rs 35 for 20 km over.

Except for the Valley, the former fare has been increased by 23 percent. At this fare, passengers will be able to carry up to 15 kg of luggage free of cost and up to 10 kg of luggage at the rate of Rs 5 per kg.

However, students, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens will get a 45 percent discount.

As per the decision of the Ministerial level of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport dated 2078 Ashad 27, the Department of Transport Management had made a legal arrangement on 2078 Ashad 29 to adjust the fare of the short route operating within the state by adjusting the fare of Antar Pradesh route.

Although the fare for public transport has been increased, the fare for taxis has not been increased. The National Federation of Nepali Transport Entrepreneurs has demanded that scientific fares should be maintained in taxis as well.

Raju Aryal, Information Officer, Department of Transport Management, Bagmati Pradesh, said that the new fare rate has been implemented from today. He said, "The new fare was published in the Gazette yesterday. It has been implemented since 2078 Kartik 1. Unlike in the Kathmandu Valley, the fare has not increased by 28 percent on the Outside Kathmandu Valley. Different fare rates have been maintained in Kathmandu Valley and outside the Kathmandu Valley. The deluxe public transport service in the Kathmandu Valley will be able to take additional fares of up to 20 percent at the newly fixed fare rate.

The transport businessmen had agitated saying that the fare of public transport has not been increased since 2063 BS. In 2063 BS, when the price of petrol was Rs 73 per liter, the fixed fare was Rs 110 per liter. Transport businessmen, on the other hand, demanded a 70 percent increase in fares. The Bagmati Pradesh government has increased fares in the Kathmandu Valley by about 28 percent and outside the Kathmandu Valley by 23 percent.