The reason for the suspension of registration has been cited as rising fuel prices and air pollution, but the government has also suspended the registration of electric vehicles, which do not require fuel and do not pollute the environment.
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The government has stopped the registration of new public vehicles as the budget for the next fiscal year is about to be presented. The decision to stop the registration has not been made for a specific period of time.
The Department of Transport Management on Thursday issued a circular to the provincial transport ministries and transport management offices not to register new public vehicles. The department has stated that the registration of new public vehicles has been suspended for the time being to control air pollution, fuel price hikes and traffic jams.
‘Due to the failure to scientifically manage public transport, excessive air pollution, increased vehicle pressure and traffic jams have resulted in difficulties in movement,’ the department said in a circular to the relevant provincial ministries. ‘It seems that public vehicles need to be properly managed to address the inconvenience and difficulties faced by public vehicles and transportation due to the rising fuel prices.’
New vehicle registration suspended to control air pollution, fuel price hike and traffic jams. The decision to suspend registration has been made in accordance with the Vehicle and Transport Management Act to address the current unusual situation and challenges, said Maniram Bhusal, Director of the Department.
‘Section 24 (3) of the Transport Management Act, 2049 BS provides that if the Department deems it appropriate to suspend the registration of any type of vehicle in the public interest due to environmental pollution, traffic congestion, road conditions, difficulties in vehicle movement or similar reasons, it may order any or all Transport Management Offices to suspend the registration of such vehicles,’ the circular issued by the Department states.
The Department has stated that it is necessary to suspend the registration to be done under Section 14 of the Act immediately until further notice in the public interest and with the aim of scientific management of public vehicles by the Government of Nepal. The Department has issued a circular to suspend the registration of public vehicles also conducted by offices/municipalities under the Ministry as per the Act. The circular issued by the department has also asked to suspend the registration of electric public vehicles. While the reason for suspending registration is the increase in fuel prices and air pollution. But electric vehicles do not require fuel, and they do not pollute the environment.
The concerned bodies have said that the department made the decision without any discussion or information. They say that this will affect public vehicles that are being inspected at various customs checkpoints.
Nepal Automobiles Importers and Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) President Ritu Singh Baidya said that she did not know for how many days the decision to suspend was made. ‘It has been heard that a decision has been made to suspend the registration of public vehicles,’ she said, ‘We do not know for how long.’ The organization has not received any official information about this, we are understanding about it.’ Auto businessmen say that this decision has created confusion in the auto market.
Surendra Kumar Upreti, President of NADA Automobiles Association of Nepal, said that he only learned about this after the news came out in various media outlets. ‘No letter has officially been received by NADA,’ he said, ‘We are understanding why this decision was made.’
Petrol price hike, hitting the middle class
Shyam Prasad Bhandari, Director General of the Customs Department, said that the import of new public vehicles will be affected by such a decision. "This decision will directly affect how many vehicles have already been sent to Nepal by opening LCs, how many are on their way, and how many are at the customs checkpoint," he said. "I don't know whether this decision is to increase fuel consumption or not." Bhandari said that this decision will affect the entire revenue collection chain.
