What is the news?
Transport services may be affected on a large scale in Maharashtra today. The state’s transport organizations have announced an indefinite strike from today. About one lakh drivers and vehicle owners are going to gather at Azad Maidan in Mumbai and protest. This strike is mainly being conducted against e-challan and high taxes. Drivers and owners say the current rules are financially and legally harmful to drivers.
Who is participating in the strike?
The strike has been called by the Maharashtra Transporters Action Committee (M-TAC), which represents truck operators, bus unions, taxi unions, tempo drivers and rickshaw groups. The movement has also been supported by truck and loading vehicle drivers, besides school bus, private tourist bus, tempo, taxi, app-based cab (Ola and Uber), and auto rickshaw unions. Due to this, there is a possibility of complete halt of the transport system of the state.
Why are the drivers striking?
The center of this entire controversy is the e-challan system. The unions allege that under the new rules, if a driver wants to challenge the e-challan, he first has to deposit 50 percent of the total fine. Transport organizations say this is increasing the financial burden on drivers and is driven by presumption of guilt. It is alleged that in some cases the digital fine is more than the price of the vehicle.
These are the arguments of vehicle owners
According to union leaders, e-challans are often issued without any apparent reason. The union says the system penalizes vehicle owners more than drivers, when in reality drivers are responsible for breaking the rules. Vehicle owners argue that apart from central and state taxes, they have to pay build-operate-transfer (BOT), additional toll for roads, causing them financial loss.
What are the demands of the drivers?
Cancellation of incorrect and old e-invoices. Ban on rule of 50 percent amount for court hearing. ‘No parking’ fine postponed until parking and loading zones are created. Clear decision on vehicle cleaner notification and border check posts. Establishment of judicial mechanism for transport disputes. Ban on mandatory installation of expensive equipment like panic buttons and FDSS. Unions say e-challans worth about Rs 4,500 crore are pending, many of which have been issued due to technical errors.
The meeting between the organizations and the Transport Minister remained inconclusive
Before the strike, a meeting was held between transport organizations and Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, but no solution could be reached. The organizations say that the agitation will continue until there is no written assurance from the government. Transport Minister Sarnaik has said that the government is adopting a positive approach to solve the real problems of the transport sector. Another meeting has been called today on this issue.
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