KATHMANDU: Public transport entrepreneurs have suggested that the government establish a competent transport authority for the improvement of public transport in the country.
Handing over a memorandum to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal at a meeting held on Wednesday, transport entrepreneurs affiliated with the Republican Transport Entrepreneurs Association demanded the registration of associations and committees in the transport sector be resumed, a transport directorate or authority be established, end unnecessary tax revenue on public transport vehicles, register vehicles as per the provinces and set up training centres for producing drivers.
A team led by the president of the association, Gyanendra Shrestha, also called for the abolition of 5% VAT imposed on transportation, including transport workers in the social security fund, investments in public transport and scrapping of impractical traffic fine policy.
Likewise, the 20-year-scrap policy imposed on public vehicles should be reviewed to allow vehicles to be operated by looking at the 'condition' of the vehicles and to end the system of allowing vehicles coming from India to operate in Nepal without restrictions, according to Purushottam Simkhada, Treasurer of the association.
