Kathmandu, 30 May(16 Jeth): Following the introduction of a new law recognizing ride-sharing services by the Gandaki Province government, transport entrepreneurs have shut down public transportation services across the province.
After the government issued regulations to legally recognize ride-sharing and self-drive services, transport operators suspended all public vehicles in protest.
Led by the Nepal National Federation of Transport Entrepreneurs, operators in Gandaki have demanded that the government withdraw its decision to legalize ride-sharing. Kedar Paudel, President of the Gandaki chapter of the Federation, accused the government of attempting to undermine the public transport system with this move.
Due to the protest by transport entrepreneurs, all long- and short-distance bus services, taxis, and public freight services within Gandaki Province have come to a halt since early morning.
“Our protest is against the law that allows private number-plate vehicles to operate like public transport,” said Shobha Kant Paudel, Chairperson of Pokhara Taxi Pvt. Ltd. and a member of the Secretariat of the Gandaki Public Transport Protection Struggle Committee. “Our protest will continue until the government withdraws its decision.”
Entrepreneurs have also warned that transportation services will be shut down across the entire country starting from Jestha 19 (June 1), if their demands are not addressed.
Yogendra KC, spokesperson for the Protest Struggle Committee, stated that the government’s move to grant private number-plate vehicles the same recognition as public transport—disregarding federal law and ignoring the contributions of the public transportation sector—is deplorable.
Transport entrepreneurs in Gandaki have parked their public vehicles at homes and garages and taken to the streets in protest.
According to Shobha Kant Paudel, a member of the Secretariat of the Gandaki Public Transport Protection Struggle Committee, around 16,000 public vehicles in Gandaki have been taken off the roads and halted as part of the protest.
On April 12 (Baisakh 30), the Gandaki Province Government passed and published in the Gazette a regulation on the management and regulation of ride-sharing and self-drive services through the Provincial Cabinet. In response to protests from transport entrepreneurs, the government formed a negotiation committee. The committee, led by Kamal Kumar Adhikari, Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Management, was formed on Jestha 13 (May 26) and has called on transport entrepreneurs to engage in dialogue.
Although the federal and Bagmati provincial governments had long intended to legalize ride-sharing, they had not been able to do so. Gandaki, however, moved forward with courage and introduced the necessary regulations, according to Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey.
The Vehicle and Transport Management Act of 2049 B.S. (1992 A.D.) prohibited private vehicles from transporting passengers. Similarly, the Regulation of 2045 B.S. (1988 A.D.) also barred private vehicles from carrying passengers. On this basis, transport entrepreneurs had long argued against the legalization of ride-sharing services.
A writ petition had been filed at the Supreme Court against this issue. However, on Ashar 13, 2081 B.S. (June 27, 2024), the Supreme Court repealed the existing provision and allowed all types of vehicles to provide services under a legal framework. Following this decision, the government introduced new regulations to govern and manage ride-sharing services.
Under the new rules, two-wheelers and four-wheelers, whether private or public, must now obtain a permit and renew it annually to operate as passenger vehicles through an online ride-sharing platform. Service providers currently operating ride-sharing or self-drive services—either independently or via their own apps—must officially register within 30 days from the regulation’s enforcement date.
To obtain a license for ride-sharing services, a company must have at least 20 vehicles, and for self-drive services, at least 5 vehicles must be registered under the service provider.
The regulation sets the following fees:
-
For two-wheelers:
-
Permit fee: NPR 25,000
-
Annual renewal fee: NPR 12,500
-
-
For four-wheelers:
-
Permit fee: NPR 50,000
-
Annual renewal fee: NPR 25,000
-
-
Combined fee (if offering both):
-
Permit fee: NPR 70,000
-
Annual renewal fee: NPR 35,000
-
Additionally, ride-sharing and self-drive service providers must pay an annual vehicle registration fee to the Transport Management Office:
-
For two-wheelers: NPR 5,000 per vehicle
-
For four-wheelers: NPR 20,000 per vehicle
