Mumbai|Thousands of transporters associated with the transport sector in Maharashtra have announced a statewide chakka jam. This protest will start from Thursday and continue indefinitely. The transporters’ protest is against the e-challan system and other issues faced by the sector.
Why is there protest?
According to representatives of the Maharashtra Transport Action Committee (M-TAC), no solution was found despite the last round of talks held at the Maharashtra Transport Commissioner’s office on Wednesday evening. After this it was decided to go on strike. M-TAC says the movement is against arbitrary and excessive electronic traffic enforcement and the increasing financial burden on the transport sector.
What are the demands of the transporters?
The demands of transporters include major reforms in the e-challan system, waiver of pending fines and reduction in taxes and toll charges imposed on commercial vehicles. M-TAC leaders claim that the e-challan system has put not only transport operators but also common vehicle owners in trouble.
How will the strike happen?
According to M-TAC representatives, transporters will protest outside regional transport offices (RTOs) at Azad Maidan in Mumbai and other parts of the state, following which the indefinite strike will begin from midnight. Due to this strike, school buses, contract carrier buses, private buses and commercial vehicles like trucks, tempos, taxis and tankers will remain off the roads. Transporters have also threatened to bring their vehicles to the protest sites. Anil Garg, a leader of the school bus owners association, said that if there is an indefinite strike, school buses across the state will not operate from Friday, although their services will remain normal on Thursday. A meeting was held between the government and the transporters. Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik had held a meeting with the transporters earlier this week, but the M-TAC found the talks fruitless due to hollow assurances from the government. Told. While appealing to the transporters to call off the agitation, Sarnaik had said that the government is positive on canceling unfair e-challans and will take a favorable decision in this matter.
What is the main demand of M-TMC?
M-TAC has demanded the government to withdraw or relax the proposed amendment in the rules. Under this, transporters will have to pay the fine of e-challan within 45 days. Failure to do so will make them face various restrictions related to permit renewal, fitness certification and other regulatory approvals. According to the demands, under Rule 468 and Amended Rule 514 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, if the cases are not filed in the court, all the deadlines will be crossed. Overdue e-challans should be cancelled.Demand for closing check posts and setting up rest houses for drivers. Furthermore, M-TAC has demanded closing highway check posts and setting up rest houses or centers for drivers. They have also demanded fire tenders and emergency service facilities on highways, parking spaces, bus stops and goods load-unloading facilities.
What is the demand of transporters regarding safety equipment?
Transporters have also demanded a review of frequent retrofitting of devices made mandatory in the name of security such as panic buttons, vehicle location tracking devices, high-security registration plates, fire detection and suppression systems and CCTV cameras. They have called for the suspension of impractical and sudden no-entry restrictions that create operational difficulties and urged the government to adopt a more consultative approach.