The newly hiked public transportation fares in Bagmati Province came into implementation on Thursday. With this, commuters have to pay Rs20 once they board public vehicles.

According to the new rates applicable in Kathmandu Valley, public transport fares have jumped to Rs20 from Rs18 for 0-5 km.

It will cost Rs25 for a distance ranging from 0-10 km, up from Rs23 and for a 0-15 km commute, it will cost Rs30, up from Rs27.

Passengers have to pay Rs33 to travel up to 20 kilometres, up from Rs30.

The Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, on April 7, decided to adjust the public transport fares based on rising petroleum prices.

The government has also decided to implement an automated pricing mechanism that, for instance, increases or decreases fares when the price of petroleum products grows or drops by more than 5 percent.

Saroj Sitaula, senior vice-president of the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs, said that the price of petroleum products has increased so much that it was crucial to increasing the transport fares.

In terms of taxis in Bagmati Province, the flag-down price is set at Rs50 while taxis will charge Rs10 per 200 metre.

The waiting charge has been kept at Rs1.20 per minute and the maximum time for waiting is 30 minutes.

For the taxi service operated from 9pm to 4am, the initial price remains unchanged but it will cost Rs15 per 200 metre.

The Bagmati provincial government has adjusted the new public transport fares by increasing them 10 percent.

In the hiked rates, passengers can carry goods up to 15 kg for free and Rs5 per kg will be charged for more than 10 kg.

In terms of goods carrying vehicles, the freight charges have risen by Rs13.45 per km per tonne, a hike of 13 percent.

Nepal Oil Corporation has hiked gasoline prices 18 times in the past 12 months, with petrol and diesel prices reaching to record Rs160 per litre and Rs143 per litre, respectively.

On April 3, the Department of Transport Management was permitted to hike freight charges by 13 and 15 percent for cargo carriers serving routes in the hills and the Tarai respectively. The department allowed transport operators to jack up fares on inter-provincial routes by 10 percent. The officials at the corporation are expecting more rises in fuel prices in the coming days.

The Brent crude price reached $108.78 on Wednesday.

Last July, the Department of Transport Management permitted a 28 percent hike in transport fares on inter-provincial routes.

Carriers serving routes in the Tarai and hills can now hike freight charges by 26 and 20 percent, respectively. All public transport and cargo fares are regulated in Nepal.