Transport entrepreneurs have refused to open advanced booking of bus tickets for Dashain festival following a dispute with the government over transportation fare.

Earlier, a meeting between the Department of Transport Management (DoTM), the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE), traffic police and representatives of the Consumers’ Welfare Protection Forum on Friday had decided to open advanced booking of bus tickets from Thursday.

The entrepreneurs have demanded that the government allow carriers on the roofs of the vehicles, repair roads and hike public transportation fare.

Dozers have been deployed along the Narayangadh-Muglin road section for the rescue operation, a letter has been sent to the Road Division Office for the up gradation of roads and a team has been formed to discuss the issue of increment of public transportation fare, Spokesperson of the Department of Transport Management Tokraj Pandey said.

“The Department has been trying to resolve the issue at the earliest, some of the demands of entrepreneurs have been addressed,” he said, adding, “It will not send a good message among the people if the entrepreneurs put forth unnecessary demands during the festival time.”

Pandey further said that the demands could not be addressed until the transport management regulations were amended.

“The Department of Transport Management has already sent a letter to the Ministry for the amendment.  The Ministry will send that letter to the Cabinet. Then only we can give the permission,” he said. “The process is going on, but the entrepreneurs should be reluctant towards their demands at a time when the festivals are round the corner,” he added.

Transport entrepreneurs have been saying that they would not open pre-booking of bus tickets for Dashan if the government did not allow them to put carriers on the roofs of the vehicles.

“We are not trying to bargain with the government in view of the festivals,” Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs General Secretary Saroj Sitaula said. “This is our previous demands. We have to be more responsible to the passengers than the government,” he added.

In view of the passengers’ problems, an official of the Transport Department said that the government will find an alternative way if the transport entrepreneurs did not open the advanced booking of bus tickets.

The government will operate the buses of security agencies and schools among others like during the time of earthquake, the official said.