Transporters to operate vehicles

KATHMANDU, NOV 13 -Transport entrepreneurs have agreed to operate vehicles normally from Wednesday.The transporters’ commitment came after the government on Tuesday assured them of security and quick compensation in case of any damage. “Public vehicles and cargo carriers will ply on the roads as usual,” said Bijay Bahadur Swar, senior vice president of the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE).

Earlier, even as the government had pledged to bear 90 percent expense of the damage to vehicles, the number of public plying on the road was less, affecting the daily life across the country. The 33-party alliance led by the CPN-Maoist has called transport strike against the Constituent Assembly (CA) election slated for November 19.

“With the transporters accepting our request, public vehicles will operate normally from Wednesday,” Tulasi Prasad Sitaula, secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport. The government has decided to provide security, compensation and help get insurance claims easily in case of any damage to vehicles.

To encourage transporters, the government has assured providing insurance money in a simplified way. Tuesday’s meeting has decided to make available insurance claims of up to Rs 500,000 within 15 days, up to Rs 1 million in a month and claims of over Rs 1 million would be provided after a month in coordination with the Insurance Board and insurance companies concerned.


On Monday, a meeting between the Essential Service Operation and Management Committee under the Home Minister had directed government agencies, including the Ministry of Finance, to make the procedure of receiving insurance claims easy and fast. To remove possible road blockades, the meeting had also directed the MoPIT to keep its heavy equipment such as dozers and excavators ready in different locations.

Swar said they urged the transporters’ committees under the FNNTE to bring vehicles in operation as the strike affects consumers, business and transport workers. He said the government has also agreed to provide free medical treatment to travelers and transport workers in case of injury from any untoward incident during the strike.