Teachers’ protest into 20th day, commuters hit hard by traffic hassle

Kathmandu, April 21: School teachers from across the country have continued their protests centered on Maitighar-New Baneshwor area for the past few days.

Although the protest remains peaceful, it has caused disruptions in traffic management, leading to inconveniences for commuters who are facing route diversions, unexpected congestion, and delays in reaching their destinations.

It said the disruption in traffic management during peak hours has largely affected students, employees and business community. Ram Prasad Dahal, 35, of Lokanthali, Bhaktapur said that his daily schedule has been affected by the continued agitations of teachers along one of the busiest area of the Kathmandu Valley. It has significantly lengthened the travel hours to reach the office from the residence, he said.

Mina Lama, 28, of Old Baneshwor has the same experiences. She wanted the agitating teachers to not cause inconveniences to daily commuters.

Kathmandu Valley Traffic Office’s Spokesperson and Superintendent of Police, Deepak Giri, said they are compelled to make traffic diversions due to the protest, though they know that it has largely caused inconvenience to travelers.
Though the government and the agitating parties have already held the meeting, the issue has not been sorted out.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Confederation of Nepalese Teachers have also sit for unofficial talks and Ministry Spokesperson Shiva Kumar Sapkota said efforts are underway to address the teachers’ concerns in package.

CNT Chair Laxmi Kishor Subedi said despite unofficial dialogues with the Ministry, the substantive achievement has not been possible, demanding them prolong their agitations by some days. “The protest was launched with the determination and the policy to get teachers’ concerns addressed,” he said. The protest has the representations of teachers from all 77 districts and 753 local levels.