KATHMANDU: The government has decided not to increase the public transport fare before the Dashain festival.

The Department of Transport Management said though it was time for a regular adjustment of fare, no decision will be taken before the Dashain.

Department Director General Gogan Bahadur Hamal said the topic of immediate fare adjustment was not raised during a meeting with transport entrepreneurs on the issue of ticket booking in advance in view of the Dashain.

This year’s budget incorporates a program for fare adjustment which will take place only after the Dashain, Tihar and Chhath festivals.

The government fixes the transport fare rate based on the prices of petroleum products (35 percent) and expenses for machinery parts and human resources (65 percent).

The Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs said it was the responsibility of the Department to make adjustment in the public transport fare, asserting that it would be made on time.

As he said, the fare rise based on the 65 percent has not been applied for seven years.

Though the Department had decided to increase the fare in last May-June, it was withdrawn after five hours of the decision.