Indefinite Strike by Goods Transport Operators Begins Across Maharashtra, School Transport May Join Soon

Pune, 2nd July 2025: With no breakthrough in talks during a state-level meeting held on Tuesday, goods transport vehicle operators across Maharashtra—including truck, tempo, tanker, and trailer drivers—have launched an indefinite strike starting midnight, demanding urgent redressal of long-pending grievances.

While passenger transport unions and school transport associations have opted out of the strike for now, they have warned they will join the protest within 48 hours if their concerns remain unresolved.

“We’ve been left with no choice. Despite repeated appeals, the state government hasn’t responded meaningfully to our demands. We submitted our memorandum on June 16 and staged protests at Azad Maidan until June 29. Still, there was no action,” said Baba Shinde, President of the Maharashtra State Goods and Passenger Transport Association.

He warned that the strike will have a direct impact on the supply chain, affecting the availability of essential commodities such as grains, milk, vegetables, flowers, and medicines.
“With the legislature’s monsoon session in progress, the timing of the strike will put pressure on the government, but unfortunately, it’s the common people who will bear the brunt,” Shinde added.

School Transport Operators Await Chief Minister’s Response
Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has promised to convene a meeting on Wednesday (July 2) with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and representatives from the school and passenger transport sectors to address their issues.

“A meeting has been scheduled with the Chief Minister today. If it doesn’t lead to a solution, school buses and vans across the state will also stop operating after two days,” said Anil Garg, President of the School Bus Association.

“We stand in solidarity with the goods transport strike and may join shortly if our issues are not resolved.”
Key Demands Raised by Transport Unions:
Immediate halt to aggressive e-challan recovery measures
Waiver of penalties imposed on commercial vehicles
Settlement of pending e-challan disputes
Relaxation of restricted operating hours for heavy vehicles in city areas
Redressal of various long-pending regulatory issues affecting operators
The strike has already begun affecting operations in several regions, with loading and unloading halted at transport hubs. Authorities are expected to monitor the situation closely, especially with disruptions anticipated in the movement of critical goods.

Unless a compromise is reached swiftly, the state may soon face shortages and supply chain delays, compounding challenges during the ongoing monsoon session.