Transport workers to suspend public transport in Kathmandu Valley from Tuesday

Transport workers have said they will not operate public transport in the Kathmandu Valley from Tuesday.

Transport worker agitators made such an announcement by issuing a statement on Monday night.

According to Bhim Jwala Rai, president of the Nepal Free Transport Workers Organization, transport workers have taken to the streets to protest against the bullying of the New Buspark contractor, Lhotse Multipurpose Private Limited. They have blocked the traffic in Balaju by parking their vehicles across the street.

Rai said that three transport workers’ associations held a joint agitation but were physically attacked during that period.

He said they had 10 demands that they had planned to make public, but launched the protest after a group of about 30 people, including the company’s CEO Sunil Kunwar, and members Pankaj Malla and Himal Kunwar physically assaulted them.

The transport workers had warned to stop the transport, accusing the traffic police of high-handedness, including imposing fines against the law and suspending drivers’ licences.

They have said that their demands must be attended to immediately. They have also said that their agitation will continue until a high-level task force is formed and begins working to address issues at the policy level, including amending the law.