Kathmandu. The Department of Transport Management (DoTM) has partly addressed the demands of the transport entrepreneurs who have been facing problems due to the government’s decision to stop the registration of public vehicles.

In a letter issued by the Department on June 22, 2083, the new registration of public vehicles has been suspended until further notice. However, it has clarified that the registration process can be proceeded by examining the necessary documents of the vehicles that have already opened the letter of credit (LC), started the import process and have already entered Nepal before the decision is implemented.

The Federation of Truck Transport Entrepreneurs of Nepal had objected to the government’s decision to withhold the registration of trucks and demanded reconsideration of the decision. Federation president Rajendra Bikram Baniya argued that it would be an injustice to not allow registration of vehicles imported after fulfilling legal process, purchased by taking loan from banks and completed construction works.

He said that hundreds of businessmen have been under financial pressure due to the suspension of registration, bank interest rates have been continuously increasing and vehicles ready to operate have been forced to park in parking. The burden of changing the policy of the state cannot be put on the businessmen. The federation was adamant that the vehicles that have been opened LC before the decision and the import process have been completed should be registered.

In the memorandum submitted to the government, the federation has also demanded to allow registration of public vehicles that have opened LC on or before May 22. According to the Federation, the suspension of registration has put investment of entrepreneurs at risk, liability towards banks and financial institutions has increased and public transport services have also been affected.

Following this demand of the Federation, the Department has made arrangements to proceed with the registration process of vehicles that have already opened LC by May 22. Welcoming the department’s decision, Chairman Baniya said that the entrepreneurs who were in trouble at the time have got some relief. He also urged the government to bring the import policy only after consulting with stakeholders while formulating policy related to import, registration and management of public vehicles in the coming days.

According to him, such decisions should be based on facts and studies as policy decisions made without an objective study of the real need of the market, the investment situation and the demand for public transport would affect the entrepreneurs, banks and the entire transport sector.