After the government of Gandaki province introduced the regulation on ride sharing, the public transport businessmen are protesting against it. Public transport has been stopped in Gandaki province for three days. Every day thousands of passengers are suffering. In this background, the umbrella organization of transport professionals, the National Federation of Nepal Transport Professionals has warned that the short, medium and long distance vehicles plying across the country will be stopped from tomorrow.

Why is the federation opposing the rules on ride sharing? What are their demands and issues? Bimal Khatiwada of Kantipur had a conversation with Federation President Vijay Bahadur Swar on this Serofero:

Are you going to stop transportation across the country from tomorrow?

, public transport will be closed across the country from tomorrow (Monday). All traffic with black number plates will be stopped . All vehicles will be garaged. Public transport will be closed in short, medium and long distances running in all seven provinces. Why are you going to stop

?

was given the name of ride-sharing, but the work began to be done entirely as public transport . Taxis and two-wheelers are running as ride sharing in Kathmandu. The Transport Management Department is making two-wheeler operation standards. Now in Gandaki province, it was said that even 15-year-olds will be allowed to drive four-wheeled vehicles as ride sharing . Accordingly, the policy was brought. However, this is not within the policy of ride sharing.

It is said that RS (Ride Sharing) will be written on the vehicle registered on the red plate and a round circle will be made. Now it costs more than 40 lakhs to buy a new taxi in the valley. When the same policy is implemented in the valley, if a 15-year-old taxi is used for ride sharing, it will cost 3/4 lakh. Why allow such a vehicle to be registered? If it is to be given, it should be given on the basis of public number plate. States cannot make laws that conflict with federal laws. A vehicle registered for one purpose cannot be used for another purpose .

So you mean ride sharing should be stricter?

We are not against technology . In the case of two-wheelers, it is mentioned in the Transport Management Act, 2049. It is said that two-wheelers can also be used as public transport. A procedure is being prepared for this. In this we have also suggested to organize . Two-wheeler accidents are the most. 

There will be a process to fulfill the demands raised by you, and the last basis is the traffic stop?

We did not call for today's shutdown. Gandaki province brought regulations on ride sharing operations. It was closed there before the regulation was introduced. We sat and discussed with the Chief Minister. We verbally agreed that ride sharing will be organized and private vehicles will not be allowed to do ride sharing . But according to our suggestion, the regulations did not come.

Who will protect our investment? We have gone to the app base . We bought the car because of the government. They want us to buy a car worth 4 million, but on the other hand, they can let us drive a 15-year-old car under the name of ride sharing. There was no injustice to the businessmen who invested in transportation through loans. We have no objection to app based ride sharing. But if old vehicles registered for private use serve as public vehicles, what service will we provide? It is necessary for the government to clear which vehicles will provide ride sharing services. Now the car has been brought in. Not sold. When there is no other option, how fair is it for businessmen to start ride sharing by taking it to the app base ? We do not fall into businessmen ?