Amid the ongoing strike by public transport operators, ride-sharing service providers have reportedly started overcharging passengers, taking advantage of the situation.
Although the Traffic Police claim they are monitoring the issue closely, no action had been taken against any overcharging riders at the time of reporting.
Around 9 AM this morning, a ride from Thapagaun to Buddhanagar via a popular ride-sharing app showed a motorcycle fare of Rs 220. Meanwhile, standard taxis were charging over Rs 700, and premium taxis charged more than Rs 800 for the same route.
The public transport preservation committee has decided not to operate black-plate public vehicles to protest the government’s approval of ride-sharing and self-drive services. With no public vehicles available, commuters have been forced to rely on ride-sharing platforms like Pathao, InDrive, iDrive, and Taximandu. Many passengers have complained that riders are taking advantage of the strike by charging excessively high fares.
A passenger who tried to book a ride from Sinamangal to Anamnagar said, “The fare used to be around Rs 150, but today it’s not showing anything below Rs 300–400.”
According to Deepak Giri, spokesperson of the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, strict monitoring has been initiated. “We’ve deployed field inspection teams, and anyone found overcharging will face action,” Giri stated.
