Maharashtra transporters call indefinite strike from Thursday midnight

Transporters across Maharashtra have announced a statewide chakka jam protest against the electronic traffic penalty system and other issues affecting the transport sector with an indefinite strike set to begin from Thursday midnight reported news agency PTIThe agitation has been called by the Maharashtra Transport Action Committee MTAC after the latest round of negotiations with government officials failed to produce a resolution Representatives of the committee said discussions held at the office of the Maharashtra Transport Commissionerrsquos Office on Wednesday evening ended without any concrete agreementProtests planned at Azad Maidan and RTO officesTransporters said demonstrations will be held across the state before the strike begins In Mumbai protestors plan to gather at Azad Maidan while similar demonstrations will be organised outside Regional Transport Office RTO premises in other districts reported PTIMTAC representatives said transport operators would assemble with their vehicles at designated protest locations to highlight their grievances The committee warned that the agitation could disrupt transport services across the state if their demands are not addressedCommercial vehicles and buses to remain off roadsThe action committee said the strike would involve a large section of the transport sector including school buses contract carriage buses private buses and commercial vehicles such as trucks tempos taxis and tankersIf the strike continues the impact could be felt across logistics passenger transport and goods movement in MaharashtraAnil Garg a representative of the School Bus Owners Association said earlier that school bus services would continue on Thursday but could be suspended from Friday if the indefinite strike goes ahead reported PTIGovernment talks fail to resolve disputeEarlier this week Pratap Sarnaik held discussions with representatives of transport organisations at the headquarters of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation MSRTC reported PTIHowever MTAC leaders said the talks failed to yield any meaningful outcome alleging that the government offered only ldquohollow assurancesrdquo rather than concrete solutions reported PTISarnaik had appealed to transporters to withdraw their agitation stating that the government was considering cancelling what he described as ldquounjustrdquo echallans issued to vehicles that were parked He assured the delegation that the government would take a favourable decision on the matter reported PTITransporters protest lsquoarbitraryrsquo echallan systemTransport unions claim that the current electronic traffic enforcement system has imposed an excessive financial burden on the transport industryThe charter of demands submitted by the committee calls for major reforms in the echallan system including the waiver of pending penalties and a reduction in taxes and toll charges imposed on commercial vehiclesTransporters have also expressed concern over a proposed amendment to traffic enforcement rules issued in January 2026 Under the new provision operators are required to clear echallan penalties within 45 days failing which they may face restrictions related to permit renewals vehicle fitness certificates and other regulatory approvalsDemand for cancellation of timebarred echallansAccording to the committee many echallans remain pending even when cases are not pursued in court Transporters have cited provisions under Code of Criminal Procedure to argue that timebarred cases should be cancelled reported PTIldquoAs per Rule 468 and amended Rule 514 of the Code of Criminal Procedure all timebarred echallans should be cancelled if cases are not filed in courtrdquo the charter of demands states reported PTIAdditional demands include driver facilities and infrastructureIn addition to changes in the penalty system transporters have also demanded the closure of highway check posts and the creation of dedicated facilities for drivers including rest houses parking spaces and emergency services along major highwaysThe committee has also sought the provision of fire tenders and emergency support services on highways as well as designated areas for cargo loading and unloading reported PTITransporters have further asked the government to review requirements mandating repeated retrofitting of devices such as panic buttons vehicle tracking systems highsecurity registration plates fire detection systems and CCTV cameras which they say increase operational costs reported PTIThey have also urged the government to reconsider ldquono entryrdquo restrictions imposed in many cities arguing that abrupt traffic rules make operations difficult and affect the efficiency of goods movement across the stateWith inputs from PTI