The Federation of Nepalese Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE) has urged the government to adjust public transport fares, citing Sunday’s increase in petroleum product prices.

Issuing a press statement on Monday, Deknath Gautam, general secretary of the federation, expressed concern over the price hike enforced by the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) last night. He noted that the increase would have a direct and adverse impact on the transport business.

The umbrella organisation of transport operators has called on the government to ensure a smooth supply of petroleum products by adopting scientific methods to control internal leakages within the NOC and manage fuel consumption more effectively.

The FNNTE highlighted that since public transport relies heavily on diesel and petrol, any fluctuation in fuel prices has an immediate effect on service operations.

The NOC increased the price of diesel by Rs10 and petrol by Rs15, effective from midnight on Sunday. The federation pointed out that the Department of Transport Management (DoTM) is legally mandated to adjust fares on federal routes through an automated system whenever fuel prices fluctuate, and requested that this mechanism be activated immediately.

Furthermore, the federation has demanded that the government ensure fare adjustments for federal routes through the DoTM and for provincial routes through the respective ministries in all seven provinces at the earliest.