Residents of Tading Gewog in Samtse are voicing concerns about the high fares taxi drivers charge, particularly on the route between Panbari and Phuentshogling. Passengers say that drivers are not adhering to the distance-based pricing mandated by the Bhutan Construction and Transport Authority (BCTA), instead charging lump sum amounts, especially for reserved rides.
According to commuters, taxi drivers are charging as much as 200 ngultrum per person for the 18-kilometre journey between Phuentshogling and Khempagang.
The fare rises to Nu 800 when reserving a vehicle. Commuters point out that, according to the current BCTA rates, they should be paying around Nu 23 a kilometre.
This means the fare for the 18-kilometre journey between Khempagang and Phuentshogling should cost just Nu 103 per person.
“For an 18-kilometre trip between Phuentshogling and Pasakha, taxi drivers charge only Nu 100, but for the same distance from Phuentshogling to Khempagang, they charge Nu 200 per person. We would appreciate it if BCTA officials could step in to monitor and regulate the taxi fares,” said Dilip Ghalley, a resident, of Khempagang.
“Taxi drivers charge about Nu 100 from here to Amochhu Bridge, and another Nu 100 to travel from there till Phuentshogling. We find these prices too high and would appreciate a reduction in fares,” said Leela Raj Ghalley, a resident of Khempagang.
“The taxi fares here seem very high. Some drivers charge Nu 200, while others ask for Nu 250. Because of these high prices, we often cancel our plans to visit Phuentshogling,” said Menuka Tamang, another resident of Khempagang.
However, taxi drivers in the area argue that the current fares are cheaper compared to the past.
They said that fares from Panbari to Phuentshogling used to be as high as Nu 300 per person, while the Khempagang to Phuentshogling route previously cost Nu 250.
Drivers also explained that they are compelled to charge more in rural areas like Tading, which lacks a designated taxi stand and has fewer passengers.
They added that fares could be comparatively lower in town areas such as Phuentshogling, where there is a dedicated taxi stand and a steady flow of passengers.
Additionally, taxi drivers expressed concerns about the lack of traffic police enforcement and the impact of private vehicles, particularly Bolero pickup trucks, undercutting their business by offering rides at lower prices.
Despite these explanations, the BCTA has emphasised the importance of complying with the official rates. The BCTA has set the fare at Nu 22 per kilometre for longer distances and Nu 23 per kilometre for local trips.
The authority urged both passengers and taxi drivers to adhere to these rates and encouraged the public to report any instances of overcharging.
Passang Dorji, Samtse
Edited by Phub Gyem
