Kathmandu. Independent lawmaker Mahabir Pun has claimed that there is a syndicate in the taxi business. Pun made the claim while speaking in the House of Representatives. 

He also said that there was a lot of financial irregularities and corruption in the distribution of ‘black plates’ (number plates) of taxis. Pun claims that this is the reason why taxi entrepreneurs and workers are being exploited. 

Stating that the government has been charging 250 to 300 percent customs duty on the import of taxis, Pun said that an additional Rs 1.5 million is being collected illegally for the ‘black plates. 

Expressing his apprehension that there might be collusion between the provincial governmentand the Department of Transport (DoTM), Pun said that he has also discussed with the Director General of the Department of Transport on this issue and demanded that the government investigate into the matter and scrap it.“To buy a taxi, you have to spend 30-35 lakhs. On top of that, they have to pay an additional Rs 15 lakh to get a black plate. “This is extreme syndicate and corruption. ’

Similarly, it takes about 25 months for a taxi driver to collect Rs 1.5 million, he said.