Pressure mounting on transport entrepreneurs to withdraw strike

KATHMANDU: Pressure is mounting on transport entrepreneurs to withdraw their indefinite strike, with ministers and lawmakers urging them not to halt services.

Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Devendra Dahal, said on Tuesday that it is inappropriate to disrupt public transportation when an agreement has already been reached with the government.

Speaking at a meeting of the Infrastructure Development Committee under the House of Representatives, Minister Dahal said the federal government has agreed to request the Gandaki Provincial Government to suspend its ride-sharing regulations and to bring the matter under federal jurisdiction once the provincial rules are put on hold.

“Ride-sharing services have been benefiting the public. We are working to bring them under proper regulatory frameworks,” Dahal said, urging transport entrepreneurs to act responsibly and raise their concerns through dialogue with the government.

Committee members said in the meeting that the government should not sign any agreement with transport entrepreneurs that promotes syndication in the public transport sector.

Commenting on the six-point agreement reached on Monday night, CPN (Unified Socialist) lawmaker Prakash Jwala argued that it would encourage syndication. “The Gandaki Province Government’s decision to regulate ride-sharing services is a step in the right direction. Other provinces should follow suit,” he added.

Madhav Sapkota of the CPN (Maoist Centre) said the agreement lacked clarity. “The government should communicate the details of the agreement clearly,” he added.

Dayal Bahadur Shahi of the CPN-UML said the government should not entertain unjust demands from transport entrepreneurs.