Overview

• Goods transporters representing over 1.5 lakh heavy vehicles have maintained an indefinite strike since July 1 to protest what they describe as punitive automated e-challan fines.
• The School Bus Owners Association and private bus groups postponed their July 2 shutdown after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik invited union leaders to formal talks.
• Maharashtra’s government formed a 10-member committee chaired by Vivek Bhimanwar to examine e-challan complaints and deliver its findings within 30 days.
• Transport unions are demanding an immediate waiver of pending fines, a moratorium on new penalties until proper pick-up and drop-off zones are marked, and creation of a joint task force for long-term enforcement reform.
• The strike has disrupted freight services across the state and raised concerns over non-essential supply chains while essential goods such as milk and medicines remain exempt