Three weeks down the line, there is hardly any change in the attitude of the drivers. “The fare has been raised but again our income is still insufficient to last a month,” said Ek Bahadur Thapa who drives taxi with number BA 1 JA 1631. “So we are always for kind of charging passengers more. There is absolutely no fixed rate.” [break]
According to him, the greatest challenge is lack of parking service for the taxi drivers. As they cannot park their taxis to look around for passengers, they are compelled either to wait for passengers at taxi stations only or just come back to the point straight away after dropping off the passengers. “When we have to return without passenger, the fuel expenses have to be borne by none other than us. The authority does not understand our problem,” he said.
Whether they earn that much or not, the drivers have to pay at least Rs 700 to the owner of the taxi every day, adds Krishna Khanal, who came to the profession just a year ago. Khanal finds it very hard to cover the expenses of his family through the job. “So you are bound to be a little clever you know. After all, it is the matter of stomach,” he laughed.
While Thapa was ready to take passengers to Tinkune of Kathmandu for Rs 400, Khanal said that Rs 450 is the minimum rate he would demand for the same distance. Variation in the rates for the same distance is not a surprising matter as many other taxi drivers, including the two in the Kalanki station, admitted.
Technical director at the Department of Transport Sharad Adhikari stated that the taxi drivers or operators are taking advantage of the lack of awareness among the public. “The fare was hiked on the basis of proper scientific calculations. We are definitely going to work in coordination with various other bodies to bring the drivers on track. They should absolutely follow the rules and desist from cheating passengers,” he said.
Related story
Khotang transport entrepreneurs decide not to hike fare
