Taxi travel to cost more

The Department of Transport Management has recommended taxi fare hike taxi by 15.62 per cent to the Ministry for Physical Infrastructure and Transport.

The current taxi fare is Rs 32 per km and with the implementation of the proposed hike, commuters will have to pay Rs 5 extra for every km they travel.
“The department has proposed Rs 37 per km,” said technical director at the department Sarad Adhikari. “The hike is based on inflation and growing (vehicle) maintenance expenses,” he said, adding that the department has submitted the proposal last week. “The ministry will take a decision soon.”
According to the department, taxi fare hike was proposed based on the recommendation made by a three-member technical team headed by Adhikari.
“We have analysed three major components — inflation, fuel price and wages of taxi drivers — while reviewing the taxi fares,” he added.
The taxi operators too have long been demanding that the government increase the taxi fares.
The department has proposed that the flag down rate should be Rs 14, instead of current Rs 10. Flag down rate is the charge that appears on the digital screen the moment a passenger gets into taxi. Though taxi fare was hiked by 8.19 per cent, taking it to Rs 32 per km, in March 2012, the flag down rate has not been increased since 2008. Last year petrol used to cost Rs 116 per litre, now it has increased to Rs 123 per litre.
Out of 15,000 taxis plying across the country, 80 per cent are in the Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara and rest in other cities of the country.