Kathmandu, July 22:

Demanding implementation of the provision on 45 per cent discount on transport fares to students across the nation, eight student unions have decided to block public transport services for an indefinite period from tomorrow.

The student unions decided to stop the movement of public vehicles from tomorrow after the government ignored their four-point demand put forward on July 14. The unions had on July 14 given the government eight days to fully implement the discount provision.

The unions’ demands include implementation of ‘fragmented fares’ in urban areas, implementation of government-fixed fares, end to syndicate system in transport sector and implementation of the discount provision.

“The indefinite strike would be in effect across the nation,” general secretary of ANNISU (R) Himal Sharma said.

On the other hand, general secretary of Federation of Nepali National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE) Krishna Adhikary hoped that the ‘intellectual’ students would not obstruct the movement of public vehicles. “They should have opted for the closure of educational institutions to press the government to meet their demands rather than blocking the public vehicles from operating,” he added.

He also said that FNNTE had asked the government to introduce quota system on discount for students on long and medium routes and a mechanism to control the misuse of student

identity cards.