In one such incident Monday, the syndicate imposers stopped a bus with registration number of Na 4 kha 6367 before it reached Beni. Bus entrepreneurs of Myagdi and Dhaulagiri used almost three dozen vehicles to block Beni-Maldunga route, forcing buses from Pokhara to turn back. Similarly, a bus en route to Pokhara from Jomsom was halted in Gasha.
In the incident, 14 passengers of a bus were forced to travel Mustang in vehicles belonging to Myagdi entrepreneurs. Many commuters have been facing unnecessary hassles due to transport syndication.
A team of stakeholders, including Myagdi Chief District Officer (CDO), Tek Bahadur KC, DSP Hira Bahadur Giri and entrepreneurs held a round of discussion to reach an agreement, but to no avail.
According to Suman Shrestha, secretary of Myagdi Jeep and Bus Entrepreneur Association, they had blocked the route because SBS was trying to impose 'monopoly' on transportation business. The agitating entrepreneurs have demanded that SBS must reach a mutually agreeable deal before they bring their service into operation.
"We were not consulted before they brought their service into operation," said Shrestha, adding that they will not grant entry to any vehicles of transportation companies who tries to ignores their existence.
Mustang Transportation Labor has also voiced it support for the protest. Shrestha said that the protest will continue until the agreement is reached.
Ayen Kumar Sai, chairman of Prithivi Highway Bus Entrepreneur Association, said that Myagdi entrepreneurs organized the protest fearing the loss of business.
"They have halted our well-facilitated vehicles to run their old buses charging high prices," he said.
According to Sai, they will not stay quite and tolerate the injustice. "If they halt our vehicles, we'll also halt their services in Kathmandu, Sunauli, Bhairava and other places.
Meanwhile, tourists have been complaining about the unnecessary hassle they are facing due to transport syndication. According to them, they have no choice but to change four buses to reach Muktinath from Pokhara.
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