Public transport operators in Gandaki Province have staged protests after the provincial government proposed new guidelines to legalise ride-sharing services.

The operators halted public transport services in Pokhara, objecting against the guidelines’ provision that permits vehicles with red number plates (private) to transport passengers.

The Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs Association Gandaki, which submitted a seven-point memorandum to the provincial government on Thursday, launched the protest halting transport service on Sunday.

The transport entrepreneurs demanded the immediate cancellation of the plan to allow private two-wheelers and four-wheelers (with red number plates) to transport passengers.

They also demanded that the government form a labour commission, the implementation of road safety plans, the establishment of a transport authority to formulate operational procedures, and make the adjustment of fare more scientifically.

While submitting the memorandum, the operators had given an ultimatum to halt public services if their concerns were not addressed by Sunday.

Kedar Poudel, the coordinator of the federation in Gandaki province, justified the strike as the last resort as the government didn’t commit cancellation of the proposed guidelines.

“We have no objection to ride-sharing,” Poudel said, “but motorcycles should be given black plates if they want to transport passengers. Allowing private vehicles to transport passengers violates sections 8(2) and 12 (1) of the Motor Vehicles and Transport Management Act, 1993.

Section 8(2) of the Act provisions that private vehicles cannot be used for transport services, and section 12(1) states that a vehicle registered for one purpose cannot be used for another.

Poudel criticised the Gandaki government for rushing the guidelines while the federal government is preparing to legalise ride-sharing with black number plates.

Ride-sharing users also met with Deepak Manange, the transport minister in the province, on Friday and submitted a memorandum saying they would continue to provide services as an alternative if the transport operators' strike persisted.

Anil Shrestha, coordinator of Riders Pokhara Nepal, emphasised the need to dismantle the long-standing syndicate of transport operators and mentioned that riders are ready to provide free services.

He claimed that over 5,000 two-wheelers and taxi drivers are prepared to offer services.

The federal government amended the Industrial Enterprises Act 2020 to include ride-sharing as a service-oriented industry in February giving ride-sharing companies legal status, seven years after they started services in Nepal.