KATHMANDU: Public transport workers and entrepreneurs across Nepal have announced an indefinite nationwide transport strike starting Monday (Jestha 19), protesting the Gandaki Province government’s regulation that permits private vehicles to operate under ride-sharing services—a move they call illegal and harmful to public transport.

Led by the Public Transport Protection Central Struggle Committee, the decision was backed by major transport unions and federations, including the Central Federation of Public Transport, Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs’ Federation, and Nepal Independent Transport Workers’ Organization.

All have instructed operators to keep their vehicles parked at homes or garages starting Monday. The protesting groups argue that the new rule violates constitutional provisions (Article 57(6), Sub-clauses 3 & 5) and the Motor Vehicles and Transport Management Act 2049.

They claim the law does not allow private-use vehicles to operate as public transport, accusing Gandaki Province of bypassing legal boundaries.

In a joint statement issued Sunday, the committee held the Nepal government fully responsible for disruptions caused to passengers and appealed to the public for support to “protect public transport from being dismantled under the guise of ride-sharing.”