The Bagmati Province government has enforced new public transport fares following a rise in petroleum prices.

The Ministry of Labour, Employment and Transport Management published a notice in the provincial gazette, bringing the revised rates into effect from Saturday.

The fare adjustment follows a recommendation by the province’s fare determination and adjustment committee, which met on Friday and proposed a hike for vehicles operating across the province, including the Kathmandu Valley.

Under the new rates, the minimum fare for passenger vehicles within the Valley has been fixed at Rs24, up from Rs19 for journeys up to 5 kilometres.

Fares have been set at Rs33 for up to 10 kilometres, Rs39 for up to 15 kilometres, Rs44 for up to 20 kilometres, and Rs50 for distances beyond 20 kilometres.

Taxi fares have also been revised. The flag-down rate has been set at Rs58, with Rs12 charged for every 200 metres.

Outside the Valley, passenger fares have been increased by 17.35 percent. Freight charges have also gone up, with rates revised from Rs14.80 to Rs18.76 per tonne per kilometre.

Fares for electric vehicles remain unchanged.

The provincial government said the adjustment was based on fluctuations in petroleum prices, adding that fares would be revised again if fuel prices change by more than 5 percent.

The ministry said the revision was carried out in line with the 2021 provincial fare adjustment regulation, market price trends, and prevailing financial laws. The previous rates had been in effect since August 24, 2023.

Officials said consultations were held with stakeholders before the revision. A delegation from the Federation of Truck Transport Entrepreneurs Nepal, led by president Rajendra Bikram Baniya and general secretary Badri Prasad Chaulagain, had urged the government to adjust fares, citing rising fuel costs, higher operating expenses, and pressure on the freight sector.