Lakhs of trucks to be off road in Maharashtra from midnight against e-challans; bus operators defer plan

The operators of buses, including those involved in ferrying school children, however, announced they would postpone their participation in the strike at the request of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai: Lakhs of trucks and other goods carriage vehicles in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra will go on indefinite strike to oppose the e-challan system for traffic violations, and other demands from Tuesday midnight, transporters said.

The operators of buses, including those involved in ferrying school children, however, announced they would postpone their participation in the strike at the request of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who said the warkaris (Lord Vitthal devotees) would face inconvenience as Ashadi Ekadashi is just round the corner.

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Taking cognizance of the transporters’ strike, the state government set up a 10-member committee led by Transport Commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar to look into the issue.
The Vahatukdar Bachao Kruti Sanghatana, an action committee of the transporters’ associations in the state, said the indefinite strike will begin from midnight as the transporters are frustrated with the e-challans and harassment by the enforcement agencies for recovery of e-challans.

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,” said Uday Barge, convener of the action committee.

In view of the transporters’ strike call, the state government formed the 10-member committee with senior officers from the Mumbai Traffic Police, Highway Police, and Motor Vehicles Department as its members along with leaders of transport associations.

According to the Government Resolution (GR) issued late Tuesday night, the committee will submit its report within a month.