The transportation sector in Maharashtra is poised for disruption as lakhs of trucks and goods carriage vehicles in Mumbai and other regions commence an indefinite strike, opposing the e-challan system for traffic violations. This initiative, driven by the action committee Vahatukdar Bachao Kruti Sanghatana, arises from dissatisfaction with e-challan enforcement and associated harassment during collection efforts.
Despite the strike, essential commodities, including milk, vegetables, and medicines, are exempt from the action. Uday Barge, the committee convener, confirmed, "As many as 1.5 lakh to 2 lakh trucks and other goods-carrying vehicles in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra will go on strike after midnight." Support for the strike is expansive, with backing from the All India Motor Transport Congress, Maharashtra Rajya Truck Tempo Tanker Bus Vahatuk Mahasangh, and other transport organizations.
The transporters' demands extend beyond the e-challan system, with calls to halt enforced fine collections, annul fines older than six months, waive ongoing penalties, cancel mandatory cleaner rules for heavy vehicles, and re-examine no-entry timings in metro areas. Kailas Pingle of the Maharashtra Rajya Motor Malak Sangh highlighted, "As the Uttar Pradesh government has waived old fines issued through e-challans in their state, the Maharashtra government should also consider taking a similar move."
In response to these developments, the Maharashtra state government has formed a 10-member committee, led by Transport Commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar, to investigate the issues. This committee will engage with transport representatives and senior officers from the Mumbai Traffic Police, Highway Police, and Motor Vehicles Department, reporting their findings within a month.
Bus operators, under advisement from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, are deferring participation in the strike due to the upcoming Ashadi Ekadashi festival. Harsh Kotak of the Mumbai Bus Malak Sanghatana stated, "We have decided to postpone our participation in the strike till midnight of July 6." Meanwhile, other bus association members, including Deepak Naik, intend to signal support by displaying black flags on buses.
The School Bus Owners' Association is also refraining from immediate strike action, having received assurances from both Chief Minister Fadnavis and Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik that their concerns will be earnestly addressed. Anil Garg of the association remarked on the decision to seek resolution through dialogue, noting governmental intent to negotiate.
The current situation follows an earlier sit-in protest at Mumbai's Azad Maidan, which concluded on June 24 after assurances of a committee by Minister Pratap Sarnaik. Despite this, transporters continue with their planned strike as overdue e-challan recoveries remain unresolved.
Source: Business Standard
