Kathmandu: As the seventh national convention of the Nepal National Federation of Transport Entrepreneurs enters its final stage of preparation in Pokhara, the federation’s Senior Vice President Punya Prasad “Saroj” Sitoula has outlined major concerns facing Nepal’s transport sector and stressed the need for transformative leadership.
Sitoula said the convention should not be viewed merely as a routine leadership selection process, but as a historic opportunity tied to the future, dignity, and survival of Nepal’s transport industry. According to him, despite the years since the implementation of federalism, the sector remains trapped in confusion, imbalance, and administrative disorder.
He argued that the lack of clear coordination among federal, provincial, and local governments has created overlapping authority and inconsistent legal interpretations, forcing transport entrepreneurs to deal with administrative complications and unnecessary pressure. Sitoula also expressed dissatisfaction that although transport organizations were converted into companies under the Company Act, the government has yet to formulate clear operational procedures or implement a long-discussed transport authority framework.
He said the route permit system has become increasingly complicated because different provinces apply different interpretations and practices. Transport operators, he noted, are often required to complete separate procedures for the same vehicle at multiple levels of government, while uncertainties over permit renewals and political and bureaucratic interference continue to destabilize the sector.
Sitoula also highlighted the difficulties faced by drivers, assistants, and transport entrepreneurs after road accidents. He said transport workers who are actively involved in rescue efforts during accidents later face legal, financial, and social pressure themselves. He criticized the insurance system as ineffective, pointing to lengthy and complex claim settlement procedures and warning that a single accident can wipe out years of earnings.
He stressed the need for a faster, simpler, and more reliable system for post-accident rescue, compensation, legal support, and insurance claims. According to Sitoula, the next generation of leadership in the federation should focus not merely on holding positions but on leading meaningful reforms.
He called for leadership capable of modernizing the transport sector through digital ticketing, electronic payment systems, GPS monitoring, and institutionalized electronic voting systems. He also emphasized the need for stronger leadership to improve passenger services, control unhealthy competition, and change negative public perceptions toward transport entrepreneurs.
Sitoula further said the federation needs leaders who can negotiate with the government using data and evidence on issues such as fuel price hikes, fare adjustments, road conditions, insurance, taxation, and vehicle renewals. He also stressed that social security, health insurance, and dignity for drivers, assistants, and transport workers should become key priorities.
He argued that policymakers must ensure fair opportunities and incentives for both electric vehicles and traditional vehicles while also addressing the management of aging fleets. According to him, leadership should be capable of pushing all three tiers of government toward unified transport laws under the federal structure, establishing a transparent and scientific route permit system, and preventing local governments from imposing taxes along highways.
Sitoula also identified the division between two separate transport federations as another serious challenge facing the industry. He said the fragmentation of transport entrepreneurs has weakened their collective bargaining power and made the government less likely to take their concerns seriously. The split, he argued, has undermined both protests and rights movements, making it essential for the upcoming convention to create a foundation for respectful unity.
Criticizing ego-driven politics, factionalism, and competition for positions within the sector, Sitoula warned that transport entrepreneurs now need collective strength rather than continued division. He cautioned that if the convention becomes limited to political power-sharing and factional calculations, the transport sector could face even deeper problems.
In a message issued from Pokhara, Sitoula expressed confidence that the convention could provide a new direction for Nepal’s transport industry if it prioritizes unity, policy reform, federal coordination, post-accident protection mechanisms, and respect for transport entrepreneurs.
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