Himal Press 
POKHARA: The indefinite strike of public transport operators affected normal life in Pokhara and other cities of Gandaki Province on Sunday.
Public transport entrepreneurs in Gandaki Province launched the strike to protest the provincial government’s move to introduce regulations promoting ride-sharing services. They have called for an indefinite strike starting Sunday. This has caused inconvenience to the general public who struggled to find transportation throughout the day.
Journalists Binu Thapa and Suraj Thapa were reportedly assaulted by transport operators and workers while they were collecting news. The Federation of Nepali Journalists, Kaski, and other professional journalist organizations have condemned the incident.
The Gandaki Chapter of the Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs National Federation presented a memorandum to the province government on Thursday. They had warned of parking all their vehicles in garages from Sunday if their demands were not met.
One of the major concerns of the public transport operators is the province government’s plan to allow red-plated vehicles, which are registered as private, from carrying passengers like black-plated public vehicles. The federation has demanded immediate cancellation of the plan. Likewise, they have demanded the formation of Labor Commission, the implementation of a road safety plan, the establishment of a Transport Authority to prepare operational procedures, and scientific adjustment of fare rates, among others.
Yogendra KC, Secretary of the Gandaki Chapter of the federation, stated that they were forced to protest due to the government’s neglect of their concerns. KC accused the province government of creating laws that violate Section 8 of the Motor Vehicles and Transport Management Act, 1993.
Kedar Paudel, the chairperson of the Gandaki Chapter of the federation, said they would withdraw all concessions for public transport if their demands are not addressed.
Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey is currently in New Delhi for health treatment.
Meanwhile, Minister for Infrastructure Development and Transport Management Rajiv Gurung aka Deepak Manange has dismissed demands placed by transport entrepreneurs, arguing that vehicles registered as private should also be allowed to earn.
Federal and provincial vehicle and transport management laws have different provisions regarding allowing red-plated vehicles to carry passengers. While federal law restricts vehicles to their registered purpose, provincial law allows private vehicles to carry passengers and collect fares.
The Motor Vehicles and Transport Management Act, 1993, clearly defines private vehicles and prohibits their use for public transport. However, the Gandaki Province government has made provisions allowing private vehicles to charge fares like public vehicles, referring to them as ‘non-commercial vehicles’ instead of private vehicles.
