POKHARA: Transport entrepreneurs of Kaski district on Thursday vandalised the Gandaki Zonal Transport Office in Pokhara protesting the latter's move to distribute route permits to a new transport association.

Representatives of various associations of transport entrepreneurs today vandalised the office of ZTC Section Officer Krishna Prasad Aryal.

The protesters argued that the ZTC decision to allow other vehicles to ply on roads in the popular tourist destination was wrong as the Lake City already had more vehicles than necessity.

Police meanwhile arrested Pokhara Bus Entrepreneur Committee (PBEC)'s Senior Vice-Chairman Deu Prasad Gurung for his alleged involvement in the vandalism.

The ZTC had issued route permits to the Bindyabasini Bus Transport Committee recently. The Committee has been approved to operate vehicles along three routes of the city.

Officer Aryal said a group of around 60 to 70 people came to his office today and vandalised it protesting the decision.

He maintained that the Office issued the permit as the Bindyabasini Transport Committee had applied for that following due legal procedures.

PBEC Secretary Amrit Sharma, however, argued that it was wrong to approve permits for more vehicles as the Pokhara roads had already been congested.

Meanwhile, some transport organisations obstructed traffic in Pokhara for around half an hour today, protesting arrest of their leader, Gurung.