POKHARA, July 12: Long-distance public transport service was halted as soon as the local administration imposed a prohibitory order due to the second wave of COVID-19 in Nepal.

Stating that the infection rate has come down significantly, the government has already opened air transport, public transport within the district and markets. But it is yet to allow long-distance public transport to resume their service.

Despite the government's ban on long-distance public transport, transport operators are preparing to resume the service. The Prithivi Highway Bus Company, which has been operating long and short distance bus services, has said that it will operate long and short distance public transport from next Wednesday even though the ban has not been lifted.

"It is an unpleasant decision despite the ban to provide for the families that rely on this industry," Yogendra Bahadur KC, Chairman of the Company, told in a press conference on Monday. “The government ignored this matter so we are forced to do this.” 

KC said the company is preparing to operate transport services by opening its counters and booking tickets from Wednesday. He said that although the impact of the second wave of COVID was diminishing, long-distance public transport services could not be operated even though various professions and businesses were open. 

"It is not justifiable for the government to ban occupations without the factual basis that corona infection increases when operating medium and long-distance transport," KC said. “The long-distance public transport will not remain shut from now on even if the government tries.”

KC also informed that if any passenger does not have a mask, the conductor will provide it for Rs 10. "We will also disinfect the vehicles that come into operation on a daily basis. We are sensitive towards the health of people," he said. "The pandemic has not only collapsed the business community, but also the labor sector. Workers, who depend on the transportation sector, are finding it hard to earn their livelihood.”

KC also said that 10 percent of the transport entrepreneurs affiliated to the company have been displaced due to the lockdown imposed this year and last year.

According to Chairman KC, the company is ready to operate a limited number of vehicles on all routes. “We will operate at least one vehicle to a long-distance destination in the first phase. At present, the number of passengers may not be as high as it used to be. But it is important to convey the message that the bus service has started,” he said. “Passengers will be charged the same fare as before.”

Entrepreneurs have informed the local administration in Kaski about their decision on Monday itself. KC said that the local administration had promised to facilitate long-distance public transport. The Prithivi Highway Bus Company currently has a total of 1400 passenger buses affiliated to it. As many as 7,200 people have received employment opportunities in these services. 

Ain Kumar Sai, Vice-President of the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs, said the businessmen were forced to operate the service as they were badly hit by the ban. He said that the public transport entrepreneurs had lost patience as the condition of public transport workers has already become miserable.

"It is time for the workers to knock on the entrepreneurs’ doors. Either all the vehicles have to be stopped or the limited number of vehicles should be allowed to operate,” said Sai.

 
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