Bus operators have urged the federal government to renew bus committees in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directive. The court ordered on Chaitra 20, 2080, that these committees be renewed under the Institution Registration Act 2034. The operators have also appealed to the government to establish scientifically determined fare rates and to halt uncontrolled vehicle imports. (Chaitra 19, Butwal)
During a press conference in Butwal, the Western Nepal Bus Operators Pvt. Ltd. demanded the immediate renewal of transport-related associations registered and operating under the Institution Registration Act 2034, as per the Supreme Court’s order. The directive came from a bench of then Supreme Court justices Satyanarayan Pradhan Malla and Bal Krishna Dhakal, responding to a case filed by the Koshi Bus Operators Association.
The company’s chairman, Dadhiram Kharel, stated, “The court recognized bus committees as social organizations operating under the Institution Registration Act and ordered their renewal as previous committees. Therefore, the current government must implement this order.” He added, “To implement the Supreme Court’s decision, the federal government under Sushil Karki had formed an inquiry commission and submitted recommendations to then Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal on Chaitra 3. We now demand that the new government’s cabinet put these recommendations into action.”
Chairman Kharel also highlighted that the costs of vehicle chassis, body, spare parts, tires, and fuel have surged significantly, urging the government to set scientifically justified fare rates accordingly. Currently, passenger vehicles are being imported in an uncontrolled manner, displacing existing operators. This not only leads to unnecessary foreign capital outflow but also jeopardizes the businesses of purely domestic investors who have already invested. Therefore, bus operators have requested the government to restrict public passenger vehicle imports strictly according to passenger demand.
