Overview
- Transporters united under Vahatukdar Bachao Kruti Samiti have called an indefinite “key-down” strike from July 1 over what they describe as “unjust” e-challan fines and operational hurdles.
- They are demanding the cessation of forceful e-challan collections, waiver of existing penalties, repeal of the mandatory cleaner rule in heavy vehicles and a rethink of no-entry timings in metro cities.
- The proposed strike threatens to disrupt school buses, employee and app-based shuttles like Uber and Cityflo, intra-state bus services and goods transportation across Maharashtra.
- On June 26, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced the formation of a high-level committee of transport officials, police and domain experts tasked with reviewing the e-challan system and reporting within a month.
- Sarnaik suggested reforms including real-time photographic evidence for challans, defined validity periods and dedicated parking facilities to prevent multiple fines for the same offence.