Service Seekers Fined Despite Closure of Transport Office

Service seekers in Chitwan have complained that they are being forced to pay fines for renewing their driving licences and vehicle taxes, even though the Transport Management Office in Bharatpur remained closed for weeks following an arson attack during the Gen G movement.

The office in Bharatpur Metropolitan City–2 was damaged during the recent Gen Z protest when it was set on fire, disrupting all services. The office had remained shut since September 9 and resumed partial operations only from October 8. Driving licence renewals restarted just last week, leaving service seekers unable to complete regular renewals during the closure.

“I visited the office repeatedly but couldn’t get the service. Now I am being fined,” said Anand Raut of Bharatpur–2. The Bharatpur Transport Management Office typically serves around 400 applicants daily for driving licence renewals, 300 for the renewal of large vehicles and 400 for two-wheelers.

Raut said he recently had to pay double the usual amount in fees and taxes for his driving licence and vehicle renewal. “Earlier they told us the system wasn’t working. Now they have imposed fines,” he said.

Although the office resumed services on October 8, service seekers said vehicles that crossed the three-month deadline during the closure are still being charged additional revenue. They also complained that while other provinces have provided waivers, Bagmati Province has failed to do so.

Information Officer at the Chitwan Transport Management Office Gyan Bahadur Bogati said fines could not be waived because the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Transport of Bagmati Province has yet to make a decision. “We have forwarded applications from service seekers to the ministry, but no decision has come,” he said.

Under existing rules, delayed renewal requires an additional fee of 5 percent in the first month, 10 percent in the second month, and 20 percent after 75 days. Public transport operators must also pay Rs 15,000 every six months for route permits, but many have been forced to pay Rs 30,000 to Rs 45,000 after their permits expired during the closure, leaving them doubly affected.

Under Secretary Bimal Bhattarai at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Transport said the file has reached the provincial Ministry of Finance, but no decision has been made regarding fine waivers. He added that since the Department of Transport Management under the federal government handles driving licence services, renewals are being processed under existing rules until a decision is made. -- RSS