Maharashtra Transporters Action Committee (M-TAC), an umbrella body representing truckers as well as operators of tempos, buses, taxis and autorickshaws, has planned an indefinite strike from March 5, Thursday, after negotiations with the state authorities reportedly collapsed.
The decision, taken at a meeting on Sunday, could severely disrupt both cargo and passenger transport across the state. A range of complaints has fuelled the protest, with the e-challan system taking centre stage.
E-Challan Grievances
One of the key demands of M-TAC was immediate scrapping of the revised e-challan guidelines introduced by the Centre in January. Transport operators are also seeking waiver of all unpaid digital fines older than 90 days, arguing that the panel constituted after their protest in June 2025 produced no tangible outcome.
According to an NDTV report, Malkit Singh Bal, who is on the high-level committee, stated that authorities have not carried out any of the reforms recommended in the detailed report presented to them on Dec. 17 last year. The association has called for revisions to Sections 177 and 200(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, relating to compounding charges.
According to M-TAC, challans that remain unpresented in court beyond the prescribed time frame should be nullified under the Code of Criminal Procedure. It is also seeking a change in accountability, proposing that traffic offences be linked directly to the driver rather than the registered owner of the vehicle.
As per the NDTV report, transport operators claim they are being unfairly penalised through what they describe as arbitrary fines. They allege that multiple challans are sometimes issued for the same violation within a single day, while “No Parking” penalties are imposed in areas where no official parking facilities exist.
The committee says these measures are legally questionable and place an undue financial burden on both commercial operators and the wider public.
Repeated Retrofitting Requirements And Infrastructure Issues
The situation has been further complicated by repeated directives requiring vehicles to be retrofitted with additional safety features. M-TAC has called for a thorough reassessment of rules covering everything from glass visibility standards and panic buttons to high-security registration plates (HSRP) and body design codes. They argue that no fresh retrofit requirements should be introduced without a proper technical and independent analysis of accident data, warning that such measures appear to be driven more by financial interests than safety concerns.
The committee has also highlighted what it describes as a serious shortage of essential transport infrastructure. Among its demands are the urgent creation of designated parking spaces, dedicated loading and unloading bays, and proper rest facilities for drivers. It has further called for the removal of state check posts and relief from fitness certification issues until automated testing centres become fully functional.
A crucial follow-up meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. today (March 5), when the transport commissioner and other senior officials are expected to hold further discussions with the committee in an effort to bridge differences. The government has hinted at possible concessions, including a “Cleaner Notification” scheduled for release on March 6 and a decision by the Chief Minister regarding the fate of border check posts. Despite this, the unions say the strike will move forward unless a signed Government Resolution is formally issued.
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