The new step by traffic police was aimed at better managing traffic during office hours. Even though it forces tankers off the road in core city areas between 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has pledged its support and promised to streamline its distribution to match the traffic movement schedule. [break]
But tanker drivers said it was a violation of their right to work round the clock. "We will not return to work unless NOC makes an arrangement allowing us to operate in the city core areas at any time," said a driver. The drivers not only did not work themselves, but also forced tankers owned by dealers off the road.
The strike has left well over 200 tankers stranded because most refilling stations in the Valley are located within the Ring Road. The drivers argue that the restriction has created a substantial problem for them.
However, NOC chief Digambhar Jha did not agree. "We have already promised to deliver oil to them early in the day so that they could easily operate within the open hours," he said. Nonetheless, in a bid to restore distribution, NOC on Saturday sought seven days´ time from the drivers to hold talks with traffic police and work out a way to fulfill their demand.
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