Biratnagar-based transport entrepreneurs are finding it hard to repay their vehicle loans due to the banda that has paralysed the life in the Tarai region for the last three weeks.

The protracted strike has not only affected the commuters but also the daily wage earners.

For the last 24 days, a number of Tarai-based political parties have been protesting against the demarcation of federal states by the major political parties, forcing vehicles operatring both on short and long routes off the road.

The transporter entrepreneurs said they have been providing food to over 200 passengers and workers who have been stranded in Biratnagar bus park area. Over 5,000 goods-laden trucks, 1,000 passenger buses and around 15,000 workers have been stuck in the bus park area due to banda.

The banks and financial institutions had made huge investments in the transport business following the end of the Maoists insurgency. A total of 3.2 million vehicles are said to have registered in eastern Nepal.  

Kishore Dhamala, president of the Federation of Nepal Trade Union, said more than 3,000 transport workers have been affected by the banda.

“Besides, the entrepreneurs have been unable to pay back their loans,” he said.

Megh Raj Sigdel, vice-president of Biratnagar Truck Entrepreneurs’ Association, said more than 10,000 workers related to the 5,000 cargo trucks have been affected.

An estimated Rs1 billion has been invested in the passenger buses being operated from Biranagar. Last year alone, 200 new buses took permission from Koshi Zone Transport Management Office.

Around 300 passenger buses leave Biratnagar for major cities across the country, including Kathmandu, Pokhara, Butwal, Bhairahawa, Dang, Tulsipur, Nepalgunj and Dhangadhi. Besides, more than 250 microbuses are operated from here.