Pune, 5th March 2026: Transport services in Pune are expected to be disrupted from Thursday after several transport unions announced a halt to operations in protest against the enforcement of e-challan rules.
As part of the agitation, passenger buses, office staff transport vehicles and goods trucks are likely to remain off the roads across the city.
However, autorickshaws and taxis will continue to operate and are not part of the strike. School bus and van operators are also unlikely to join the protest as examinations are currently underway, and operators said participating in the strike could cause inconvenience to students appearing for exams.
Transport unions have raised objections to a provision linked to the e-challan system that allows authorities to suspend a driver’s licence if a challan remains unpaid for 45 days. According to transporters, the rule is unfair and their concerns have not been adequately addressed by the state government.
Kiran Desai, working president of the Pune Bus and Car Owners Association, said transporters will symbolically surrender their vehicles to authorities as part of the protest. He said that if there is no concrete outcome, they are prepared to launch an indefinite strike.
He added that similar protests are taking place in other parts of Maharashtra and that transporters plan to demonstrate outside the collector’s office.
Baba Shinde, president of the Maharashtra State Vahan Chalak Malak Pratinidhi Mahasangh, said the government could postpone the rule and initiate discussions with the Centre. He said that under the Motor Vehicles Act, if an e-challan is not presented before a court within 90 days, it becomes invalid.
The issue was also raised in the Maharashtra Assembly on Wednesday. MLA Amin Patel urged the government to intervene and address the concerns of transport operators.
In response, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said the government understands the concerns raised by transporters and has directed officials to examine the legal aspects of the rule to find a solution.
Meanwhile, government officials have appealed to transport unions to allow more time, particularly with the state budget scheduled to be presented on Friday.
Nitin Pawar, general secretary of Rickshaw Panchayat, and Keshav Kshirsagar, president of Baghtoy Rickshawala, expressed support for the protest but clarified that autorickshaw drivers would not participate in the strike.
