Mumbai, March 5 The Maharashtra Transport Action Committee (M-TAC) announced on Thursday evening that it would postpone its indefinite strike, which was scheduled to begin at midnight, after receiving a written assurance from state transport minister Pratap Sarnaik that their concerns would be addressed after the Budget session.
"Following the minister's request, the strike has been postponed for a week. Therefore, there will be no strike from midnight," said Anil Garg, a leader of the School Bus Owners Association, which is part of M-TAC.
Harsh Kotak, another leader of private bus owners, said that in addition to Sarnaik's written assurance regarding issues related to e-challans and other concerns, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also spoke to them via video call and assured them that their grievances would be resolved.
"A meeting is likely to be held next week, after which we will decide on the future course of action regarding the strike," Kotak said.
In a statement issued later in the evening, M-TAC said they had been informed that a meeting will be organized within the coming week between Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and representatives of the Maharashtra Transporters' Action Committee, as well as various transport associations.
"During the meeting, detailed discussions will be held on issues such as the e-challan system, toll collection, the taxation structure, and other pending demands of transporters, with an assurance that a positive solution will be worked out," the statement said.
Respecting the assurance given by the transport minister, M-TAC and various transport associations have decided to temporarily withdraw the ongoing agitation.
It is hoped that the government will take a positive decision in the upcoming meeting, and a suitable solution will be found for the legitimate demands of transporters, it added.
In his letter to transporters, Sarnaik said that the administration is currently busy with the Budget Session, and efforts are being made to take a positive decision on the issues faced by transporters after the session.
Sarnaik also wrote that exports of goods have been disrupted due to the Iran war.
Moreover, considering the ongoing school examinations, passenger movement in the state should not be further affected, he said in the letter.
"Therefore, I urge you to call off your scheduled strike from midnight of March 5," Sarnaik said.
A release issued by Sarnaik's office said that transporters' associations across the state have decided to "withdraw" the statewide strike after the government assured a positive approach towards cancelling "unfair" e-challans.
He said a joint meeting of the police and transport departments would soon be convened to resolve various issues faced by the sector.
Discussions were held with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding the strike called by transporters across the state, the release quoted Sarnaik.
Sarnaik said the government is considering the transporters' demands sympathetically and appealed to them to withdraw the strike. Responding to the appeal, the transporters decided to call off the agitation.
"The government is sensitive to the various demands of transporters. A positive decision will be taken regarding e-challans issued in an unjust manner," Sarnaik said in the release.
Earlier, while announcing the strike, M-TAC had said that school buses, contract carriage buses, private buses, and commercial vehicles, including trucks, tempos, taxis, and tankers, would remain off the roads during the indefinite agitation.
