5 June 2020, Kathmandu
Tootle and Pathao, transport service providers to the public in the Kathmandu Valley, have been hit hard by the coronavirus-induced lockdown.
Operators of Tootle and Pathao say both the companies are on the verge of collapse with coronavirus cases rising every single day.
Sharing woes of the company, manager of the Pathao Shashanka Thapa said that the company is undergoing a difficult phase with no signs of resumption of public transport services.
Due to the lockdown imposed by the government to stem the coronavirus spread, 50,000 riders have been staying in their houses and that the company is not able to pay salary to its staffers and rent to the office.
Tootle, another public transport service provider, has no different story. Sharing the problems, Kshitiz Bhatta, director of Tootle, said the company is on the brink of collapse due to the ongoing lockdown. It has not been able to even pay its staffers and meet office expenses.
Over 30,000 to 35,000 riders of Tootle are currently staying at home due to lockdown.
Earlier, the government had tried to halt operations of both Tootle and Pathao but it rolled back its decision following massive protests by the public.
