Transport operators associated with Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE) disrupted vehicular movement by parking their buses in major road intersections in Pokhara for several hours. [break]
Although Chief District Officer (CDO) of Kaski Basanta Raj Gautam, while talking to Republica on Monday, expressed his commitment to take strict actions against those disrupting vehicular movement, the local administration remained a mute spectator even as the supporters of a syndicate system in transportation sector caused troubles to daily commuters.
Apparently emboldened by the administrations´ leniency, the Bagmati zonal unit of the FNNTE has warned of an indefinite transport strike if the registration of the new transport committee is not cancelled.
The FNNTE, which has not allowed any company to introduce new buses for many years, has argued that more buses likely to be brought into Pokhara by the newly-formed Bindhyabasini City Transportation Committee will cause problems to the commuters.
However, the Bindhyabasini committee, which has already announced that it will introduce 58 buses within the next three months, on Monday reaffirmed its stance that it will not withdraw its plans. “We are for competitive business in tune with liberal market policy by following all legal procedures,” said Bikash Shrestha, secretary of the Bindhyabasini committee. “Irrespective of protest by other transport committees, we will definitely execute our plans on time. They can´t say that only they can run their buses.”
The Bindhyabasini committee has claimed that it will introduce Euro 3-standard buses in Pokhara and some other adjacent towns. The 26-seater buses will have air-conditioner facilities; and will emit less smoke, the committee claimed.
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