Pokhara, January 1:

Angry transport workers today obstructed traffic on Prithvi highway while taxi workers staged an hour-long chakkajam in Pokhara.

The transport workers halted traffic at Prithvi Chowk, Chauthe, and Lekhnath municipality along the Prithvi Highway claiming that they were ignored and not called for a meeting held yesterday to solve the dispute involving tourist buses. Scores of passengers and vehicles bound for different destinations were stranded.

The transport workers have put forth a number of other demands, including appointment letters for transport workers and implementation of the transport management Act, secretary of All Nepal Transport Workers’ Association Jhanka Nath Poudel said.

The workers have also demanded action against the police personnel who beat up four transport workers at Prithvi Chowk this morning and appropriate compensation to the victimised. They added that traffic would remain halted until all their demands were met.

Meanwhile, the Taxi Entrepreneurs’ Committee (Pokhara) halted taxi services in Pokhara saying taxis with new number plates should not be introduced in Pokhara, general secretary of the committee Jay Ram Parajuli said.

He added that the committee was, however, ready to replace old taxis with new ones with the same number plates.