Nepalnews.com, news from Nepal as it happens

Transport strike continues to affect normal life

The nationwide indefinite strike by transport entrepreneurs continues to affect normal life and businesses on Tuesday.

Demanding ten percent further hike in the transport fare, the National Federation of Transport Entrepreneurs has imposed strike nationwide from Monday. Earlier its strike was limited to Bagmati zone.

The talks between the officials of Ministry of Labour and Transport Management and representatives of the Federation held on Monday failed to reach to any conclusion. The two sides parted ways agreeing to meet again on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the strike has thoroughly affected normal life and businesses. In the absence of public transport vehicles, commuters have been stranded and even schools have remained shut down.

“We demand ten percent further hike in the transport fare because the 25 percent hike which the government recently announced, actually, only reflects five percent hike for us since the 20 percent hike was already agreed upon eight years ago,” said Dinesh Bhandari, president of the Federation.

On the top of the strike by the transport entrepreneurs, the Nepal Petroleum Dealers Association (NPDA) has also announced indefinite stoppage of sales and distribution of petroleum products.

The NPDA has demanded smooth supply of fuel and equalisation of price of diesel and petrol.

“We have suffered from short supply since last 32 months. We want this to end once and for all,” said Shiva Prasad Ghimire, president of NPDA. nepalnews.com sd Jun 24 08