Maharashtra Transport Strike: Buses, Taxis Off Roads From Tonight As Transporters Protest e-Challans

Last Updated:March 05, 2026, 09:59 IST

Transport operators will first stage demonstrations in several cities across Maharashtra on Thursday. The agitation will then escalate into an indefinite strike from midnight

Transporters across Maharashtra have called for a state-wide chakka jam on Thursday and an indefinite strike beginning at midnight, escalating their protest against the e-challan system and other issues affecting the sector.

The strike call was confirmed by the Maharashtra Transport Action Committee (M-TAC) after the latest round of talks with the state government at the Transport Commissioner’s office on Wednesday evening failed to reach a resolution.

Protests Before Midnight Strike

According to M-TAC representatives, transport operators will first stage demonstrations at Azad Maidan and outside Regional Transport Office (RTO) premises in several cities across the state on Thursday. The agitation will then escalate into an indefinite strike from midnight.

The strike is expected to affect a wide range of services. M-TAC said school buses, contract carriage buses, private buses and commercial vehicles — including trucks, tempos, taxis and tankers — would stay off the roads during the agitation. Transporters have also warned that vehicles could be brought to protest sites as part of the demonstrations.

Anil Garg of the School Bus Owners Association said earlier that school buses would operate normally on Thursday but could stop services from Friday if the strike continues.

Talks With Govt Inconclusive

Earlier this week, Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik held a meeting with transporters at the headquarters of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) in Mumbai. However, union representatives said the discussions ended without concrete assurances.

Sarnaik had appealed to transporters to withdraw the agitation and said the government was willing to review and cancel “unjust" e-challans issued to vehicles parked in permitted locations.

Key Demands of Transporters

Transport unions say the agitation is aimed at addressing what they describe as “arbitrary and excessive" electronic traffic enforcement and the growing financial burden on the transport sector.

Their charter of demands includes:

• Reforms in the e-challan system and a waiver of pending penalties
• Reduction in taxes and toll charges on commercial vehicles
• Withdrawal or relaxation of a proposed rule requiring transporters to clear e-challans within 45 days

Under amendments proposed earlier this year, transporters who fail to clear penalties within the stipulated period could face restrictions linked to permit renewals, vehicle fitness certification and other regulatory approvals.

Union leaders have argued that the system has caused hardship not only for commercial operators but also for ordinary vehicle owners. They also cited legal provisions under Rules 468 and 514 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, claiming that time-barred e-challans should be cancelled if cases are not filed in court within the stipulated period.

Other Operational Concerns

Apart from the e-challan issue, transporters have demanded the closure of highway check posts and the development of better infrastructure for drivers, including rest facilities and emergency services on highways.

The unions have also raised concerns about repeated regulatory mandates requiring the installation of safety devices such as panic buttons, vehicle tracking systems, high-security number plates, fire detection systems and CCTV cameras, which they say add to operational costs.

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