Transporters in Maharashtra threaten indefinite strike from March 5

The Maharashtra Transporters Action Committee MTAC representing truckers private bus operators and taxi and autorickshaw unions on Monday reiterated its call for an indefinite statewide agitation from March 5 news agency PTI reportedMTAC leaders on Monday said that school buses contract carriage buses private buses and commercial vehicles including trucks tempos taxis and tankers would remain off the roads during the indefinite agitationThey also said that there was no concrete assurance on their demands in the meeting convened during the day by Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik at the Mumbai Central headquarters of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation MSRTC PTI reported The meeting was attended by Transport Commissioner Rajesh Narvekar and senior police officersIn an official press release Sarnaik asked the transporters to withdraw their agitation saying the government was positive about cancelling unjust echallans issued to parked vehicles and would take a favourable decision in this regardStrict instructions have been issued that only authorised officers should initiate echallan actionA joint meeting of the transport department police administration and representatives of transport unions has been convened on March 5 to address their grievances he saidMaharashtra Transport Minister said The sentiments of transporters regarding echallans are very strong There have been complaints that echallans are being issued arbitrarily to vehicles parked in lots and in some cases by staff without proper authorisation This is unjust Strict instructions have been issued that only authorised officers should initiate echallan actionSarnaik further stated that the government was open to reviewing and cancelling previously issued unjust echallans and urged unions to suspend the strike until the March 5 meeting PTI reportedMTAC highlighted that the agitation is due to the arbitrary and excessive electronic traffic enforcement and the mounting financial burden on the sectorThe representatives also said they were not satisfied with the assurances and would proceed with the indefinite agitation from March 5 across MaharashtraAfter Pratap Sarnaikrsquos statements MTAC leader Harsh Kotak said that the transport minister had offered only hollow assurancesThe committee is firm on going ahead with the indefinite agitation Around one lakh transporters from across the state will reach Azad Maidan in Mumbai with their vehicles on March 5 and start the agitation from midnight if the state government fails to take a concrete decision said KotakDemands by Maharashtra transportersDescribing the protest as a jan andolan peoples movement MTAC leaders claimed the echallan system has caused hardship not only to transport operators but also to ordinary vehicle ownersBaba Shinde a transporters leader from Pune expressed regret over the inconvenience likely to be caused to students during the ongoing examination period due to the suspension of school bus servicesThe charter of demands which MTAC submitted to the government earlier this year includes major reforms to the echallan system a waiver of pending fines and a reduction in taxes and toll charges imposed on commercial vehiclesAs 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 court its charter of demands stated reported PTIMTAC has also demanded the closure of highway check posts and the establishment of rest houses or centres for drivers It has sought fire tenders and emergency service facilities on highways for accidenthit vehicles along with the immediate provision of parking lots bus stops and cargo loading and unloading facilitiesThe transporters have further called for a review of the repeated retrofitting of devices such as panic buttons vehicle location tracking devices high security registration plates fire detection and suppression systems FDSS CCTV cameras and other equipment which they claim are mandated under the pretext of safetyThey have also demanded the suspension of what they described as unfeasible and abrupt no entry restrictions that cause operational difficulties and have urged the government to adopt a more consultative approachFurthermore the action committee has additionally sought the withdrawal or relaxation of a proposed amendment to the rules in January 2026 requiring transporters to clear echallan penalties within 45 days failing which they would face restrictions on essential services such as permit renewal fitness certification and other regulatory approvalsWith inputs from PTI