With various transport unions mulling over the strike of all commercial vehicles, namely, trucks, tempos, tankers, private buses that include school buses, a final call will be taken today whether to go ahead with the indefinite strike from July 17 onwards or not.
“On Monday we will be meeting the state transport authorities asking them their stand on the demands we made months ago,” said Prakash Gavali from Maharashtra Rajya Truck Tempo Tankers Bus Vahatuk Mahasangh.
Once the meeting with the authorities is over, the transport associations will hold a meeting to discuss and decide whether they want to go ahead with the strike or not.
The unions are protesting the state’s decision to install speed governors inside the commercial vehicles including school buses. The unions argue that once the speed governors are installed inside vehicles, the delivery time of the goods will increase substantially, also increasing the transportation cost of the goods.
“We do not want the governors, this is the demand we are pressing for. Our meeting has been planned in Vashi on Monday evening,” added Mr Gavali.
It is mandatory for tankers and dumpers to install the governors, the rule will be implemented for trucks from November. Moreover, 80 per cent of the school buses are still without this equipment.
With the strike’s implementation, supplies of essential products like milk, diesel, petrol, vegetables, and others will get severely affected.
School students, would face the brunt of the situation, as it is an indefinite strike of the commercial vehicles, primarily buses and tempos. As autorickshaws and taxis are not participating in the strike, they are to take the opportunity and make big money during the strike.