Expressing his objection, Minister for Internal Affairs and Law Shalikram Jammakattel said that Kathmandu Valley Public Transportation Management Authority Bill introduced this week by the federal government interfered with the jurisdiction of the provincial government.

“In accordance with the constitution of Nepal, the federal government has the authority to only prepare national transportation policy and manage national highways and railways,” said Minister Jammakattel. “The provincial government formulates transportation laws. With its recent move, the federal government has attempted to interfere in our jurisdiction.”

Stating that the federal government’s move was a mistake, Jammakattel said, “The country is a federal setup so why is the central government unnecessarily interfering in the rights of the lower units?”

Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transportation Raghubir Mahaseth tabled Kathmandu Valley Public Transport Management Authority Bill 2019 in the National Assembly this week. Minister Mahaseth said the bill aimed to systemise, develop and expand public transportation in Kathmandu Valley by making it easy, reliable and cost-effective.

While participating in deliberation over the bill, the lawmakers demanded introduction of the policy at the national level instead of confining it only to Kathmandu Valley.

Provincial Minister Jammakattel argued that the federal government-introduced bill was meaningless as the provincial government has already formulated laws regarding vehicle and transportation management act.

“Such a law can be formulated only after taking three districts of the Valley under the federal government. Otherwise, the bill is clearly against the spirit of the constitution,” claimed Jammakattel, demanding an immediate withdrawal of the bill.