Maharashtra Transporters Stand Firm on March 5 Strike, Warn of Statewide Standstill Despite Government Appeal

Mumbai, Mar 2026 : The Maharashtra Transporters Action Committee (M-TAC), an umbrella body representing truckers, private bus operators, taxi and autorickshaw unions, on Monday reiterated its decision to launch an indefinite statewide agitation from March 5, warning that commercial transport services across Maharashtra would come to a grinding halt if the government fails to take concrete action on their demands.

Leaders of the action committee said the proposed agitation would see school buses, contract carriage buses, private buses and a wide range of commercial vehicles — including trucks, tempos, taxis and fuel tankers — staying off the roads. They cautioned that the shutdown would severely disrupt daily life and supply chains across the state, but insisted that transporters had been left with no alternative.

The announcement came after a high-level meeting convened by Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik at the Mumbai Central headquarters of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC). Transport Commissioner Rajesh Narvekar and senior police officials also attended the meeting, which was aimed at defusing tensions ahead of the proposed strike.

Addressing the media after the discussions, Sarnaik appealed to transporters to withdraw their agitation, stating that the government was sympathetic to their concerns, particularly over what he described as “unjust” and “arbitrary” e-challans. He said there had been numerous complaints that fines were being issued to vehicles parked in designated lots and, in some cases, by personnel without proper authorisation.

“The sentiments of transporters regarding e-challans are very strong. There have been genuine grievances that penalties are being imposed unfairly. This is not acceptable. Strict instructions have been issued that only authorised officers should initiate e-challan action,” the minister said, adding that corrective steps were already being taken.

Sarnaik also announced that a joint meeting of officials from the transport department, police administration and representatives of transport unions would be held on March 5 to examine the issues in detail. He indicated that the government was open to reviewing and cancelling previously issued unjust e-challans and urged unions to suspend the strike until a final decision was taken.

However, M-TAC leaders dismissed the assurances as inadequate. They said similar promises had been made in the past without meaningful follow-up, and confirmed that the indefinite agitation would proceed as planned.

M-TAC leader Harsh Kotak said that nearly one lakh transporters from across Maharashtra would converge at Azad Maidan in Mumbai with their vehicles and begin the agitation from midnight on March 5 if the government failed to announce a clear rollback or cancellation of disputed e-challans.

Describing the proposed strike as a “jan andolan” or people’s movement, the committee alleged that the existing e-challan system had imposed an “arbitrary and excessive” financial burden not only on transport operators but also on ordinary vehicle owners. According to M-TAC, penalties have multiplied without adequate grievance redressal mechanisms, pushing small operators to the brink of financial distress.

Transporters’ leader Baba Shinde from Pune expressed regret over the inconvenience likely to be caused to students during the ongoing examination season, particularly due to the suspension of school bus services. However, he said the agitation had become unavoidable in the face of mounting regulatory pressures.

In its charter of demands submitted earlier this year, M-TAC has called for sweeping reforms in the e-challan system, waiver of pending fines, and reduction in taxes and toll charges on commercial vehicles. The committee has also sought cancellation of time-barred e-challans under relevant provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Additional demands include closure of highway check posts, establishment of rest centres for drivers, improved emergency response services on highways, and creation of adequate parking, loading and unloading facilities. Transporters have further questioned the mandatory retrofitting of safety devices such as panic buttons, vehicle tracking systems, high-security registration plates and fire detection systems, arguing that repeated compliance requirements have become financially unviable.

The action committee has also opposed abrupt “no entry” restrictions in urban areas and urged the government to adopt a consultative approach while framing transport policies. A key concern remains a proposed January 2026 amendment mandating clearance of e-challan penalties within 45 days, failing which transporters could face curbs on permit renewals, fitness certificates and other regulatory approvals — a move they fear could cripple the sector if enforced without reforms.