On the request of the metropolis, the organization had started service some 10 months ago in Kathmandu and Lalitpur. The metropolis thought the service necessary to ease the trouble of the commuters travelling at night. In the absence of the service, commuters had been facing a lot of difficulties. The government had also provided Rs 4.5 million financial aid as encouragement to start the service. [break]
"The aid was just for six months. The metropolis had committed to start several initiatives, including revision of the night fare, setting up of night markets, ensuring security, to make the service sustainable. But it has done nothing," said Dharma Raj Rimal, Bagmati zone coordinator of NFNTE. He said that the entrepreneurs have been operating service in the inner route incurring heavy losses since the last four months. Rimal said that the service along Satdobato, Lagankhel, Ratna Park, Basbari routes will be stopped after June 15.
The organization said that additional aid is needed to continue the service. Entrepreneurs had also sought other facilities if financial aid is not possible, but the government refused to consider their demands. Rimal claims that the mobility of commuters rose till late hours following the start of service. "After we started the service, other vehicles also started providing service till late hours," said Rimal, adding, "But the concerned authorities have done nothing to make the service sustainable." He said that the entrepreneurs cannot take losses for long, when the concerned authorities seem indifferent to serve commuters.
The organization has been operating 14 buses from 8 pm to 11 pm at night. Rimal said that only six buses will continuously ply on the Ring Road after June 15. The KMC´s executive officer Laxman Aryal could not be contacted for comment as he is on a foreign trip.
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