Govt Again bans Ride-sharing Service in Nepal: Tootle and Pathao
The dispute over Tootle and Pathao operations, which has long been ride-sharing, has been rekindled. The dispute was reopened after a taxi businessman besieged the transport department on Tuesday and demanded the closure of the towers and dispatches. Taxi businessmen have been repeatedly demanding the closure of Tootle and Pathao.
Taxi businessmen had reached the transport department stating that they would not be able to carry passengers on vehicles that were taken out for personal purposes. Tootle is also operating a motorcycle and dispatcher through its mobile app by associating itself with motorcycles and the common taxi in the valley.
The government is planning to regulate Tootle and Pathao. The Prime Minister and Departmental Ministers are in favor of regulating Tootle and Pathao. Although the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has entrusted it with the department in November, the department has not shown seriousness in the making and regulation of rules and regulations. Head of the department, Gogan Bahadur Hamal, said that a bill made for the provision of federal vehicles and transportation would be made in relation to ride-sharing. "The bill is submitted to Parliament after it is passed, it is governed by making rules, regulations, and rules," he told the capital.
Ban twice before:
Ridesharing Tootle and Pathao have been unsuccessful attempts to close twice before. An attempt was made to close Tootle and Pathao during the time of the then Transport Minister Raghuvir Mahaseth. However, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli did not want to shut down. Tootle and Pathao were re-elected after the Prime Minister took the side of the regulated and systematic operation after all-out protests.
Again, the Department of Transportation under the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport issued a notice in the first week of December, warning that it would register for one purpose and take action on vehicles used for a different purpose. After the heavy pressure from the taxi drivers, one of the Patho drivers was also put into action. However, the decision to close Tootle and Pathao did not last long. Physical Infrastructure and Transport Minister Vasantakumar Nemwang rejected the department's decision. Since then Tootle and Pathao have been operating seamlessly.
At that time, there was a dispute between the ministry and the department of ministries about preventing ride sharing such as Tootle, Pathao. The department was in favor of closing down and the ministry had directed the operation to continue as usual. Although the department issued a notification to stop ride-sharing, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Vasantkumar Nemwang had instructed not to stop ride-sharing, including Tootle, Pathao.
Minister Nemwang called on the Ministry and directed the Director-General of the Department of Transport Law, Gogan Bahadur Hamal, to stop Tootle and Pathao, which has been operating for a year and a half. He also directed that the report should be amended if the law should be amended. However, the ministry has not submitted any report so far.
Prime Minister in favor of making and operating laws:
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is in favor of formulating rules and regulations, rather than shutting down and sending off. It was strongly opposed by the then Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, with a ban on Tootle and Pathao. However, Prime Minister Oli had instructed us to continue the service immediately. Tootle and Pathao came into operation after he instructed them not to stop immediately by bringing them to legal standards.
Meanwhile, the physical ministry has also given the department the task of formulating new procedures to manage Tootle, Pathao, and others on Wednesday. The department has been avoiding saying there is a provision in the bill to provide for federal transport and transport.
There is a provision to be registered with the Department of Transportation to operate the transport services. Tootle and Pathao are not registered with the Department of Transportation and are registered and operated at the Registrar's Office. About 50,000 riders are affiliated to Tootle and Pathao.
