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News18
01-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Maharashtra Truckers To Go On Strike From Midnight Against 'Unjust' Collection Of Fines
Last Updated: Lakhs of trucks and goods transport vehicles across Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra are set to go on an indefinite strike starting Tuesday midnight Lakhs of trucks and goods transport vehicles across Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra are set to go on an indefinite strike starting Tuesday midnight, protesting against the e-challan system for traffic violations along with other pending demands, transporters said. However, bus operators — including those providing services for schoolchildren — have decided to defer their participation in the strike following a request from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The CM urged them to reconsider, citing potential inconvenience to warkaris (devotees of Lord Vitthal) ahead of the upcoming Ashadi Ekadashi festival. Taking cognisance 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. However, he made it clear that the transportation of essential items, including milk, vegetables and medicines, has been kept out of the strike's purview. Barge further said that the All India Motor Transport Congress, the apex body of transporters in the country, has supported the strike along with the Maharashtra Rajya Truck Tempo Tanker Bus Vahatuk Mahasangh, the All India Bulk LPG Transporter Association, and the Navi Mumbai Transport Association, along with many other transport bodies. He said that the government did not invite them for any meeting on Tuesday. heir other demands include stopping the forceful collection of e-challan fines, cancellation of e-challans older than six months, waiving existing penalties, cancelling the mandatory cleaner rule for heavy vehicles, and reconsidering no-entry timings in metro cities, among others. '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," said Kailas Pingle, president of Maharashtra Rajya Motor Malak Sangh, which has also extended support to the strike. The transporters complain that the recovery process by authorities has become aggressive and is disrupting business operations, besides mounting fines of e-challans. Harsh Kotak, a leader of the Mumbai Bus Malak Sanghatana, one of the bodies of bus operators, told PTI that earlier in the day a meeting was held to take a decision about participation in the strike. At that time, CM Fadnavis requested the bus operators over the phone not to go on strike to avoid troubles for the warkaris, as Ashadi Ekadashi is just a few days away. 'We have decided to postpone our participation in the strike till the midnight of July 6," Kotak said. Deepak Naik, president of the Mumbai Bus Malak Sanghatana, said that they have extended their support to the strike and they will express their protest by tying black flags to buses in this period. The School Bus Owners' Association, a body of school bus operators, also said that both Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik have assured them they will address their grievances with due seriousness. 'Respecting the positive intent shown by the government, the committee has decided to postpone the strike and pursue the matter through the channel of dialogue and negotiation," Anil Garg, leader of the School Bus Owners' Association, said in a statement issued after a meeting. 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. On June 26, Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik had assured the formation of the committee. From June 16, the transporters had started an indefinite sit-in protest at Mumbai's Azad Maidan to press their demands about e-challan and other issues. Finally, they ended the protest on June 24, after Maharashtra Industries Minister Uday Samant assured them he would convene a meeting to resolve their issues. In the meeting held the next day, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik and Industries Minister Uday Samant assured them that a committee would be formed to look into the demands. The transporters, however, remained firm on their stand of going on strike from the start of July as they were not going to get relief from the recovery of e-challans older than six months, which they are demanding to withdraw.
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Transport commissioner issues termination notices to abolish border check posts in Maharashtra
Mumbai: Transport Commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar on Saturday issued termination notices to 22 border check posts in the state. This indicates that the border check posts, which are allegedly a hub for malpractices, are finally being abolished in Maharashtra. The decision was in line with the central govt directives and the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) system. The aim is to streamline interstate transport and remove obstacles to the movement of commercial vehicles, said a senior transport official. A year ago, Madhya Pradesh abolished its border check posts. State transport minister Pratap Sarnaik said that these border check posts, established in 1966, were intended to control vehicle movement, ensure compliance with transport regulations, and collect road taxes. However, after the implementation of GST and advancements in digital measures, the need for these physical check posts diminished. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai In the past, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also instructed the closure of these check posts. The transporters' unions repeatedly demanded their closure through various representations. Consequently, a positive report addressing administrative issues was sent to the CM, and on approval, the border check posts will now be closed, Sarnaik said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Circus Magic Unveiled GCE Read More Undo In this context, a committee chaired by Bhimanwar conducted an in-depth study of the decision's impact and effectiveness. Based on this report, the govt concluded that the need for physical inspections could be effectively replaced by online systems and electronic monitoring. This transition will increase efficiency, reduce delays, and help prevent malpractices, according to Sarnaik. Sources said that a private firm was appointed for the border check post project, and agreements were made for the operation and maintenance of the facilities. However, due to the decision to close these check posts, compensation of Rs 504 crore needs to be paid to the private entity, an official said. "Once this amount is paid, the related technology and immovable assets will become the property of the transport department," the official added. Bal Malkit Singh from All India Motor Transport Congress said, "This landmark decision comes in response to repeated appeals and follow-ups by transport unions, stakeholders, and the central govt. The move aims to eliminate bottlenecks in interstate transportation, enhance road safety, and implement a paperless, technology-driven monitoring system in line with the 'Ease of Doing Business' framework."
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Mumbai: Heavy goods transporters, bus operators threaten strike from July 1 midnight
MUMBAI: Transport associations have announced that despite the state's decision to disable the photo-uploading feature in the MahaTrafficApp following complaints of misuse, formal implementation is still pending. They have declared an indefinite strike starting from midnight on July 1, with tourist bus operators joining in—likely impacting goods transportation and inter-city bus services in and out of Mumbai. To address the grievances and avert a major crisis in the transport sector due to the strike, Minister Pratap Sarnaik has called a meeting with stakeholders on Thursday. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai According to Bal Malkit Singh of the All India Motor Transport Congress, a high-level committee's recommendations submitted earlier this year confirmed widespread misuse of the feature. The committee highlighted issues such as unverified challans, harassment of motorists, and manipulation by individuals and officials using personal devices for enforcement. Their findings recommended immediate deactivation of the feature to ensure fair traffic regulation, Singh said. He emphasised that the situation has caused significant distress among citizens, drivers, and the road transport community. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cuối cùng, chơi miễn phí game chiến thuật hay nhất 2025! Sea of Conquest Phát ngay Undo Tourist bus operators also plan to participate in the July 2 protest. Harsh Kotak of the Mumbai Bus Malak Sanghatana (MBMS) said bus operators would hold an urgent meeting this week, citing numerous complaints from drivers about incorrectly issued e-challans on highways. An MBMS media statement on Wednesday said: "If the government continues to ignore our long-standing grievances beyond June 30, various passenger transport associations will observe a strike from midnight on July 1. The strike has received overwhelming support from private bus operators and all passenger transport segments, including school transport, employee transport, Cityflo, Uber operators, and intrastate bus services. " An MBMS member added: "This protest is not just against the implementation of e-challans, but also against unresolved infrastructure shortcomings and ongoing departmental issues that continue to severely affect transport operations."
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
State transport discusses proposed policies on proof of parking, decongestion
Mumbai: The state transport department on Friday conducted a key meeting with all stakeholders across the transport and urban planning spectrum to discuss the proposed proof of parking (for new vehicle registration) and congestion management policy. The govt plans to make it mandatory for buyers to show proof of parking for any new registration in the near future. It also plans to introduce new measures to reduce congestion on city roads. A detailed presentation was made on the subject, followed by inputs from stakeholders. The road transport fraternity submitted a memorandum, where the core point discussed was the conversion of old octroi nakas in Mumbai—specifically Mankhurd, Mulund, and Dahisar—into Integrated Truck Terminals equipped with parking bays and EV charging stations. "We proposed that the govt should go ahead with converting the octroi nakas into truck terminals where all the heavy goods vehicles will terminate and goods will be offloaded," said Bal Malkit Singh from All India Motor Transport Congress. "In future, only smaller vehicles will be allowed to load the goods at the octroi naka and bring it inside the city. These vehicles will also run on environmentally friendly fuel such as CNG and electric. This, in turn, will reduce not just congestion on roads but also air pollution," Singh said. "Converting existing idle infrastructure like old octroi nakas into modern truck terminals is a practical, cost-effective step toward a cleaner, efficient, and future-ready transport ecosystem in line with the Union govt's vision for Viksit Bharat 2047," Singh added.
Hindustan Times
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Maharashtra proposes doing away with attendants in heavy vehicles
Mumbai: Maharashtra's transport department has proposed doing away with the mandatory requirement of having attendants on heavy vehicles, goods carriers and passenger buses, saying it's an outdated concept given the technological upgrades that have come through in the last few years, according to officials. However, the state's law and judiciary department and a section of the transport department itself, along with experts, have opposed the proposal, saying it goes against the existing rules and could lead to a rise in accidents on highways, according to officials. The move, if cleared, would affect millions of people employed as cleaners and helpers in over 1.2 million heavy vehicles in the state. The transport department moved the proposal last month, citing similar moves by other states like Gujarat, and sought opinions from various state departments and officials. The proposal stated that although most other states require an attendant in heavy vehicles, Maharashtra can amend the rules for vehicles less than 18 metres in length by making a 360-degree vision camera mandatory. However, the law and judiciary department, along with officials from the transport department and the office of the transport commissioner, have opposed the proposal, saying there needs to be a study of other potential effects of this rule change, including the loss of jobs and potential litigations. The law and judiciary department also said that amending the rules on the basis of vehicle length cannot be done, said officials from the transport department, requesting anonymity. Rule 249 of the Maharashtra Motor Vehicle Rules 1989 makes it mandatory for a driver of a heavy goods and passenger motor vehicle to be accompanied by an attendant. 'The attendant shall be in a position to give warning of any traffic approaching from the rear and shall assist the driver by giving signals when the motor vehicle is being taken in reverse,' the rule states. On a national level, the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, does not specifically require attendants to be present in heavy vehicles or buses, except in certain cases, like school buses. Maharashtra's transport department decided to move the proposal following a presentation by associations representing heavy vehicles. Bal Malkit Singh, former president of the All India Motor Transport Congress, who was involved in the discussions, said that the compulsion of having cleaners is an outdated concept that does not exist in other states and across the globe. 'The rules framed by the government making the cleaner mandatory are age-old and no longer required,' he said. 'The technology has changed—vehicles have dashboards, dash cameras, and GPS technology. Apart from this, the clutches, brakes, and wheels are so smooth that they do not give any fatigue to the driver like in the past. Road conditions have improved, and they are equipped with CCTV cameras. As such, the concept has been outdated and does not exist anywhere in the world. After our discussion and presentation, the state transport department has moved the proposal to do away with the cleaners,' he added. Singh also said that attendants are unlikely to go jobless if the proposal is cleared, as there is a 22% shortage of drivers for heavy vehicles in the country. 'Vehicles have not been able to ply because of the shortage. The cleaners could be provided with driver training to enable them to take up the job of a driver,' he added. In April, Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari said in the Lok Sabha that India is facing a shortage of 2.2 million skilled drivers. The country has over 10 million trucks and lorries. However, AV Shenoy, transport expert and member of the Mumbai Mobility Forum, said that such a decision would be suicidal at a time when India's road accident rate is among the highest in the world. 'If there is no concept of cleaners in other countries, [that's because] there are enough roadside facilities at a specific distance on highways for the rest and refreshment of drivers. The roads are in good condition and the technology of vehicles is much advanced. Cleaners provide physical assistance and psychological support to the drivers who drive for hours and mostly during the night because of the restrictions during daytime. Most of the time, the drivers of goods carriers are alone on highways, and in such a scenario, the cleaners play crucial roles,' he said. According to a 2021 World Bank report, India accounts for 11% of global road accident deaths despite having only 1% of the world's vehicles. India records around 450,000 road accidents annually, leading to 150,000 deaths, the report said. Gadkari had said last month that about 180,000 people die in India every year due to road accidents.
