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Maharashtra Transporters Press Ahead With July 1 Strike Despite Govt’s E-Challan Reforms

Transport bodies will halt services to demand rollback of e-challan fines, deeming recent reforms insufficient.

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.