KATHMANDU, May 30: Public transportation in Gandaki Province has come to a halt. After the provincial government passed a law recognizing ride-sharing services, dissatisfied transport operators shut down public transport.
Bharat Nepal, General Secretary of the Central Federation of Public Transport Nepal, said the public transport service was stopped because the provincial government, by creating and implementing laws and regulations against the constitution, endangered the existence of public transportation.
He stated that all rented vehicles, including public buses, mini buses, tempos, and taxis, have been parked in garages. As part of their protest, they submitted a memorandum of demands to the chief ministers of all seven provinces on May 28. On June 1, they plan to hold protests and rallies with black flags across all provinces.
Public transport halted in Gandaki as protest against ride-shar...
The transport operators have warned that if their demands are not addressed by June 2, starting from June 2, they will launch an indefinite nationwide strike by keeping vehicles parked in garages.
Opposing the provincial government's recognition of ride-sharing services, the National Federation of Nepalese Transport Entrepreneurs, Federation of Truck Transport Entrepreneurs Nepal (FTTEN), Federation of Transporter Nepal, and the Nepal Transport Workers Union have united for the protest.
Led by the National Federation of Nepalese Transport Entrepreneurs, vehicle operators in Gandaki have halted public transportation services from today in protest against the regulation. Due to the shutdown, many people traveling long distances are facing difficulties.
Shobha Kant Paudel, President of Pokhara Taxi Pvt Ltd, stated that taxis, buses, and freight services have been completely stopped within Gandaki Province since early morning today. She added that transportation will be blocked throughout the country starting from June 2.
