Shopkeepers in Samtse town are not happy with the increasing transportation charges incurred while shipping their goods. They say the charges doubled in the last few months. This has also triggered a hike in the price of goods and services in the town.
Local drivers are demanding exorbitant charges to transport goods till Samtse. As a result, the shopkeepers are unable to maintain a fair price in the market today.
“Earlier, it only cost us about Nu 8000 to transport goods. But now, we have to pay that amount in bringing goods from Thimphu to Amo Chhu alone. And we have to pay additional Nu 3000 while switching drivers. And again we have to pay around Nu 5000 to transport goods from Amo Chhu till Samtse,” said Gem Tshering, a shopkeeper in Samtse.
“Most of the customers complain about the hike in the price of goods and vegetables. We try to explain to them that it is not us increasing the price at our own will. The vegetable price has increased from the source itself and the transportation cost is increasing as well,” said Phub Gyem.
“If I have to hire a vehicle, I am afraid that I won’t be able to do so. Some of the drivers have started to charge Nu 5000 as a hiring charge. Earlier it was only Nu 2500,” added S.P Ghalley.
Meanwhile, the local drivers said that it is the increase in the price of fuel that led to an increase in transportation charges.
“The reason behind the increase in the transportation charge can be attributed to the sudden increase in the price of petrol due to the pandemic. Moreover, we have to come from very far places and halt a night here at the hotel. The hotel charges alone amount to Nu 1500. And we only charge three to four thousand,” said Kumar Sharma, a driver.
Some drivers added that the increase in the transportation charges is due to the driver switch system introduced at the transhipment post in Sorchen and Amo Chhu in view of the pandemic. Currently, a driver charges about Nu 3000 to Nu 4000 as a hiring charge while transporting goods from Sorchen to Amo Chhu checkpoint.
Meanwhile, Samtse Dzongkhag Administration told the BBS that they have not received any formal complaints with regard to the matter as of today, adding the district’s price monitoring team is constantly monitoring the price in the market.
Passang Dorji, Samtse
