A meeting between representatives of the Maharashtra Transporters Action Committee (M-TAC) and the transport commissioner concluded on Wednesday without any positive outcome, leaders said, reiterating that the proposed indefinite statewide agitation from the midnight of March 5 will proceed as scheduled. According to transporters, the Azad Maidan meeting in Mumbai will also be held as planned on Thursday, March 5.
“Transporters across the state attempted to draw the state government’s attention to issues related to e-challan by halting vehicles at key locations in all districts and sounding horns at 4 pm on March 4. The protest was organised across various places under the banner of the Maharashtra Transport Action Committee,” said Dr Baba Shinde, a member of the committee.
M-TAC, which represents truckers, private bus operators, and taxi and autorickshaw unions, has called for the indefinite agitation over what it describes as “arbitrary and excessive” issuance of e-challans and the mounting financial burden on the sector.
The committee’s leaders have 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 agitation.
On Monday, a meeting convened by Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik at the Mumbai Central headquarters of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) was attended by Transport Commissioner Rajesh Narvekar and senior police officers. However, transporters said they were not satisfied with the assurances offered.
In an official press release, Sarnaik asked transporters to withdraw their agitation, stating that the government was positive about cancelling “unjust” e-challans issued to parked vehicles and would take a favourable decision.
Strike to go ahead despite Maharashtra Transport Minister’s assurances
“Strict instructions have been issued that only authorised officers should initiate e-challan action,” the minister said.
He added, “The sentiments of transporters regarding e-challans are very strong. There have been complaints that e-challans 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 e-challan action.”
Sarnaik further stated that the government was open to reviewing and cancelling previously issued unjust e-challans and urged unions to suspend the strike until a joint meeting of the transport department, police administration and representatives of transport unions scheduled for March 5.
However, M-TAC leader Harsh Kotak had termed the assurances “hollow”.
“The 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,” Kotak had said.
Describing the protest as a “jan andolan (people’s movement)”, M-TAC leaders claimed the e-challan system has caused hardship not only to transport operators but also to ordinary vehicle owners.
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 services.
The charter of demands submitted earlier this year includes reforms to the e-challan system, waiver of pending fines, reduction in taxes and toll charges, and cancellation of time-barred e-challans.
“As per Rule 468 and amended Rule 514 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, all time-barred e-challans should be cancelled if cases are not filed in court,” the charter stated.
The transporters have also sought closure of highway check posts, establishment of rest facilities for drivers, emergency services on highways, adequate parking and cargo facilities, and a review of mandatory retrofitting of safety devices. They have further demanded relaxation of proposed rules requiring clearance of e-challan penalties within 45 days, failing which permits and other regulatory approvals could be restricted.
With the latest meeting ending without resolution, transporters have indicated that the statewide agitation from midnight of March 5 will go ahead as announced.
