The plan also includes opening a Vehicle Fitness Test Centre (VTFC) in Teku, Kathmandu, and 16 transport service offices across the country, according to DoTM.

As per the plan, which has already received the Cabinet nod, one more transport offices will be opened in Koshi, Gandagi, Lumbini and Narayani zones each. And, 16 transport service outlets will be opened in places such as Illam, Biratnagar, Gaighat, Bardibas, Bharatpur, Gaur, Hetauda, Dumre, Tansen, Birendranagar, Bhairava, Bhalubang, Dadeldhura, Dipayal, and Sano Bharyang and Salla Ghari in Bhaktapur.

These offices will have the authority to issue route permits to vehicles, examine vehicles and approve their movement, renew vehicle registration and collect vehicle taxes. The offices will be led by a gazetted third-class officer and will also have technical staff. Every such office will have 7-10 staffers on the basis of the busyness. After new additional offices will be opened in the four zones, one of them will be responsible for issuing driving license and the other will oversee transportation management.

“Additional offices are being opened in these zones considering the high flow of service seekers,” said Mukti KC, director general at DoTM. “This will make the offices more efficient.” Currently, there are 15 transport management offices in the country.

DoTM is now awaiting the Ministry of General Administration’s decision on the posting of the staff. “The Department of Civil Personnel has already registered necessary positions for new recruits. Once the Ministry of Public Administration deploys staff, we will start opening the offices,” said KC.

Although DoTM had sought Rs 730 million from the Ministry of Finance to open the new offices this year,  the ministry has yet to allocate the budget, KC said. “However, we are hopeful the budget will available as the Cabinet has already given its nod,” he said. DoTM will either lease space or construct own buildings for the offices. Meanwhile, DoTM has not been able to bring the VTFC in operation as Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has refused to reconnect power line due to unpaid bills.

The high-tech facility, which will check roadworthiness of public vehicles and certify them for operation, was completed in 2011 at a cost of Rs 60 million. NEA says it will not reconnect the power until Rs 9 million the previous tenant owes is paid.

The land occupied by VFTC was formerly occupied by Nepal Transport Corporation which used to operate the Hetauda-Kathmandu ropeway. The company’s utility bills have remained unpaid since it was dissolved by the government in 2002.

“Since the Cabinet has given its nod to the decision, we hope to get the required funds soon,” said KC.