Talks to sort out transportation row to continue today

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, June 3: The two rounds of talks held between the government and transport entrepreneurs ended inconclusively on Monday. 

According to Bijaya Swar, President of the Nepal National Transport Entrepreneurs Federation, the meeting held on Monday at the Ministry of Home Affairs between concerned government officials and transport entrepreneurs ended inconclusively and was postponed until 10:30 am Tuesday.

The transport entrepreneurs have launched a nation-wide transportation   strike demanding that the new ride-sharing regulations introduced by Gandaki Province should be repelled.

 During the second-round talks held on Monday evening, transport entrepreneurs demanded that the government immediately suspend the new regulations of the Gandaki Province and draft future rules in alignment with federal law.

“Our demand is to temporarily suspend the regulations for now and to formulate new ones in line with the federal act once it's enacted. No conclusion was reached on this matter today, so it was agreed to meet again on Tuesday,” said Swar after the meeting. Earlier on Monday, a meeting was held between Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and the agitating transport entrepreneurs.  

The meeting attended by Minister for Home Affairs Lekhak, Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal, and representatives from several other ministries formed a negotiation committee, led by Krishna Raj Panta, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport to draft points of consensus. 

The committee has representatives from the Ministries of Home Affairs, Law, General Administration, Labour and Employment, and Finance. 

According to agreements reached during the meeting held at the Ministry of Home Affairs, federal authorities and stakeholders have concurred that the ride-sharing provisions introduced by Gandaki Province will not be implemented immediately. 

Although transport operators had submitted multiple demands, most were deemed relatively minor. However, their primary concern remains the ride-sharing regulation introduced by Gandaki Province. “The regulation is seen as contradictory to federal legislation,” said Panta. “Hence, the transport entrepreneurs are demanding its complete repeal,” he said.

The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has already drafted a new federal transport bill, which has been submitted to the Ministry of Law. This proposed legislation includes provisions for the regulation and management of ride-sharing services. Until the federal law is enacted, transport operators are demanding a suspension of provincial-level regulations.

Earlier on Monday, Swar said the media after the meeting that the issue was heading toward resolution through dialogue and mutual concessions. “The government has initiated the negotiation process. We expect the next meeting to reach a conclusion,” said Swar.

“Although we initially demanded a full repeal of the Gandaki regulation, we have softened our stance and are now only requesting for a temporary suspension,” he claimed.  He added that the strike would be called off if the Gandaki Provincial Government agrees to defer enforcement of the regulation. “The Home Minister has assured us that he will consult with the Chief Minister of Gandaki Province,” Swar noted. “If the federal government formally requests a suspension and the province complies, we will withdraw our protest.”