Sunsari, May 9

Although the government has ended the syndicate system in the transportation sector, transportation entrepreneurs have given continuity to the syndicate operated from Dharan, Sunsari, to the hilly districts of eastern Nepal.

Entrepreneurs are yet to end the syndicate system in relation to small and large vehicles operating under different names of unions from Dharan to Dhankuta, Tehrathum, Sankhusabha and Bhojpur, among other hilly districts.

The Local administration is silent even though entrepreneurs have been plying more than 200 vehicles from Dharan Buspark.

Koshi Bus Entrepreneurs Association, Eastern Transportation Association, Saptakoshi Bus Entrepreneurs Association, Joint Bus Entrepreneurs Association, Saptakoshi Micro Entrepreneurs Association, Sunsari Transportation Entrepreneurs Association, Purba Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs Association, among others, are operating vehicles openly.

Of them, Koshi Bus Entrepreneurs Association, Eastern Transportation Association, Saptakoshi Bus Entrepreneurs Association, Joint Bus Entrepreneurs Association and Purba Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs Association have banned operation of vehicles not registered with their unions.   A few vehicles are operating to the Tarai districts from Dharan while entrepreneurs have given continuity to the syndicate system in transportation from Dharan to the hilly districts.

Man Bahadur Dhakal, a local of Bhojpur, said passengers could not reach their destination after entrepreneurs imposed the syndicate in transportation sector. He said the government should not release arrested entrepreneurs without any action. He added that there were two dozen ticket booking counters in Dharan. Passengers complained that the authority concerned did not take action even when illegal counters were operating.

Meanwhile, National Federation of Transportation Entrepreneurs central vice chairman Krishna Subedi said vehicles were operating through the queue system to avoid possible accidents due to competition.

SP Rajan Adhikari of District Police Office, Sunsari, said action should be taken against entrepreneurs operating vehicles through the syndicate system. SP Adhikari said DSP Rameshwor Poudel of Area Police Office, Dharan, had been directed to gather information regarding the same.