To give some relief to the general public, Sajha Yatayat has decided to slash its transportation fares by five percent.

The decrease in fares will be made from the new fares that have been increased by 25 and 28 percent for long and medium routes, respectively, according to newspaper reports.

According to officials at Sajha Yatayat, the new fares will come into effect from March 9, 2006.

Reports quoted managing director of Sajha Yatayat, Mukunda Raj Satyal, as saying that the government-fixed transportation fare hike percentage was the ceiling price. “Our aim is to control the fare rates in the competitive market,” he said.

Traffic chief of Sajha Yatayat, Shambhu KC, said other private transportation companies were arbitrarily collecting transportation fares.

Earlier the Araniko Transportation Service Committee (ATSC) had also cut its bus fares by eight percent following the request from the people of Dolakha district.