Kavre, October 30

The Arniko Highway re-opened from this evening after the disruption of traffic for two days.

The traffic resumed after an agreement between the bandh organisers and local administration.

Central member of the workers’ association, Om Wagle, president and vice president of the Maoist-affiliated All Nepal Transport Workers’ Association’s Arniko Highway main unit committee, Dirna Lal Shrestha, and Dipak KC and representatives of the security organs reached a seven-point agreement in coordination of Kavre Chief district officer Kabi Raj Khanal.

CDO Khanal said the traffic was resumed after the agreement - arranging security along the Highway, punishing the guilty and providing compensation for the damaged vehicles - was reached.

The concerned also agreed to remove the army fence placed at Nalinchowk of Bhaktapur district. “The traffic was resumed after our demands were addressed”, Shrestha said. The Arniko Transport main unit committee had called for an indefinite transport strike since yesterday placing ten-point demands.

Today’s bandh went peaceful though protesters vandalised three vehicles yesterday.

During the bandh in the last one year on the Arniko Highway two dozen vehicles were vandalised, seven drivers and

hundreds of transport workers were manhandled and property worth Rs three million was damaged, transport entrepreneurs said.