Pune/Mumbai Road transport operators have warned of an indefinite strike from July 1 if their key issues are not addressed by June 30. Their demands include action on pending e-challans, high fines, strict cleanliness rules, and entry limitations in major cities. If the strike goes ahead, it could disrupt school and employee bus services, intra-state travel, truck operations, and overall road transport across the state, severely affecting the movement of goods and passengers.
As per media report, stating their issues, transporters said that they are forced to pay penalties and e-challans while the vehicles are on duty, which causes delays and affects their schedule and punctuality.
Speaking on the upcoming protest, Baba Shinde, president of the Maharashtra Drivers-Owners and Representatives Federation, stated, “If the state government fails to meet our demands by July 1, we will begin an indefinite chakka jam across Maharashtra from July 2. This decision was taken unanimously during the meeting.”
The transporters are asking the government to cancel the current fines and remove the rule that requires a helper in heavy vehicles.
They also want the ‘no-entry’ time limits for commercial vehicles in cities to be removed.
Since June 16, members of the transporters’ group have been holding a sit-in protest at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai, but their demands have not been addressed yet.
On Wednesday, the Vahatukdar Bachao Kruti Samiti (VBKS) announced an indefinite strike against e-challans, heavy fines, and poor transport infrastructure. Murad Naik of the Mumbai Bus Malak Sanghatana (MBMS) said, “Various passenger transport organisations have decided to launch an indefinite protest if the state government continues to ignore our grievances.”
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