Transport strike hits Bheri zone

SURKHET, May 22: Vehicular movement in Bheri zone has been affected due to a dispute between two transport entrepreneurs´ committees.



Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs´ Federation has called an indefinite transport strike in the zone from Saturday due to a dispute between Kankrebihar Transport Entrepreneurs Committee and Mid Western Transport Entrepreneurs´ Committee. [break]



Buses going to Kathmandu, Nepalgunj, Kalikot, Salyan, Dailekh, Pokhara and Butwal didn´t leave Surkhet leaving hundreds of passengers stranded at the bus park. Likewise, no vehicle entered the Kathmandu Valley from outside.



Strike enforcers vandalized around half a dozen vehicles in Surkhet. A jeep of Panchakoshi Hotel taking foreigners to airport, a Yeti Airlines vehicle and three public transport vehicles were vandalized.



The dispute started after Kankrebihar committee brought buses from outside for operating in the Surkhet-Kathmandu route two months ago. Midwestern Transport Entrepreneurs Committee has opposed it saying it is against the agreement among entrepreneurs to not operate buses brought from outside Bheri zone.



Midwestern committee argues that the agreement was reached in Gulariya, Bardiya last year while Kankrebihar claims that it started service after obtaining legal route permit. Kankrebihar committee has not been able to bring the buses into operation with Midwestern committee staffers vandalizing the buses on two occasions earlier.



Meanwhile Kankrebihar committee has slammed the Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs´ Federation accusing it of taking sides with Midwestern committee in the dispute and claimed that Bheri zone coordinator of the federation Shyam Lal Kandel who issued the statement declaring strike is also secretary of the Midwestern committee.

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