Province 1 local levels unprepared to regulate three-wheelers as deadline looms

By Bishnu Prasad Pokhrel, Damak, Sept. 4:Three-wheeler autos and e-rickshaws have been operating after being registered under Transport Management Offices since a driving license became mandatory to drive the vehicles. 

At the beginning, they started operating after getting registered with respective local levels. However, as the number of modern three-wheelers started growing rapidly displacing traditional pulling-and-paddle rickshaws, rules for driving license and proper registration in transport management offices were enforced.

Vehicle and Transport Management (First Amendment) Regulation of Province 1 has entrusted the responsibility of registering and managing three-wheelers to local levels.

Rule 4 (7) of the regulation states that three-wheeler rickshaws registration, renew and transfer will be performed by transport management offices until the end of Ashwin, 2079 B.S. (October 17, 2022). Following the provision, local levels of Jhapa district have already started preparations.

On July 19, a meeting chaired by Jhapa’s Chief District Officer Chhabilal Rijal had decided to direct all local levels of the district to prepare necessary law related to auto- and e-rickshaws operation and their management at the earliest.

However, none of them has prepared any plans, policies, law or regulation for registration and operation of the three-wheelers as of now.

The provision to allow local levels to regulate three-wheelers was expected to lead to their proper management. These days the East-West Highway and inner roads of local levels across Terai are seen filled with three-wheelers operating haphazardly and causing traffic congestion. 

A three-wheeler can transfer its registration to the respective local levels, other than the local levels in Hill and Himalayan regions, within the end of fiscal year 2022/23 by paying set tax and fine. 

Province 1 Minister for Transport Management and Communication Upendra Prasad Ghimire said, “The process to transfer the authority to register and manage three-wheelers to the local levels is underway. The local levels will regulate and manage three-wheelers from October 18.”

Speaking at an interaction programme on three-wheeler management in the district, Minister Ghimire said that the step to allow local levels manage the vehicles will lower unnecessary traffic congestion. 

Meanwhile, the tax paid to register and renew three-wheelers will be distributed between the respective local level and the provincial government, with the former keeping 60 per cent while the latter 40 per cent.