The District Administration Office, Kathmandu has discussed with the concerned bodies on Thursday about operating public transport. A meeting chaired by Kathmandu Chief District Officer (CDO) Kali Prasad Parajuli and attended by the Department of Transport Management, Metropolitan Traffic Police, Transport Entrepreneurs Transport Workers Union, Chiefs of Security Agencies agreed to decide whether to allow the operation of Corona till Asar 13, Kantipur Online has stated.
CDO Parajuli said that a decision will be taken after further discussion on Asar 13. “There was a discussion in the presence of everyone about operating public transport,’ he said, “but no decision has been made on when to operate it. “According to him, it has been decided to send the drivers, co-drivers and employees of the transport sector to the Ministry of Health for vaccination.
Earlier, the government had relaxed the ban on private vehicles from last Tuesday. However, no decision has been taken yet on the operation of public transport that has been suspended since Baishakh 16. Transportation operators, on the other hand, are not in favour of driving through the even-odd system. Saroj Sitaula, general secretary of the National Federation of Nepali Transport Entrepreneurs, accused the government of repeatedly discriminating against them.
Entrepreneurs have demanded that long and medium distance vehicles be allowed to operate inside and outside the valley. He claims that the market will not move unless public transport is allowed to operate. “Even if the market is open on any given day, how can the market be run without public transport?” he said, “Not everyone has vehicle to reach the market, so public transport is the one that suits everyone.” The businessmen demanded that an immediate decision be taken on the issue, saying that the file sent by Department of Transport Management on scientific fare adjustment from 2068 has been sent to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport.
Another demand of the businessmen is that the transport workers working in the forefront should be vaccinated against corona. He said that they are ready to drive with health precautions until they get the vaccine as the administration has shown interest. Similarly, he said that the concerned bodies are positive about not implementing the even-odd system. According to him, there is an estimated investment of Rs10 billion in this sector. Which is at risk from repeated lockdowns and bans. In the transport sector, 60 percent are self-employed. They worked ad drivers and co-drivers. 80 percent is invested by banks and 20 percent by entrepreneurs. There are about 4.6 million dependent families from transport workers and businessmen across the country. The number of freight and public transport operating across the country is around four lakh. By Muna Chand
