POKHARA: The Gandaki Province government has renewed its appeal to transport entrepreneurs to engage in dialogue to resolve their ongoing protest against the legalization of ride-sharing services.
At a press conference on Saturday, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Transport urged protesting transport entrepreneurs to sit for talks, reiterating the government’s openness to dialogue. The entrepreneurs, who have been protesting since Friday, have so far refused to attend the scheduled meetings.
In an effort to facilitate the negotiation, the Ministry has formed a five-member talks team led by Secretary Engineer Kamal Kumar Adhikari. Despite the government’s previous invitation for a meeting on Wednesday, the transport organizations declined to participate.
“We are still open to discussion and urge the protesting parties to come forward so that their concerns can be addressed in a constructive manner,” said Adhikari.
Public transportation across Gandaki Province has remained disrupted since May 30, following a strike called by eight transport-related organizations, including the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs.
The protesting groups have issued a 17-point list of demands. Key among them is the repeal of the provision that allows private vehicles to transport passengers, the removal of the expiration limit imposed on public vehicles, and the scrapping of the recently introduced ride-sharing policy.
With the transportation sector effectively paralyzed in many areas, the government continues to push for negotiations in hopes of bringing an end to the growing crisis.
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