Mumbai: Many schools declare leave

School bus associations in the city said on Tuesday that several of their buses have remained without refuelling due to the ongoing strike by truckers and the services will be affected from today. The operations of state transport buses and lorries at the wholesale vegetable market will also be affected, possibly hitting essential commodity supplies.

In a late night development, following talks with the government, truckers in Maharashtra called of their strike late Tuesday night. "The Home Secretary of the Central Government in a meeting with the office bearers of the All India Motor Transport Congress New Delhi gave assurances that the final order will be taken only after discussing with the All India Motor Congress about the errors in it before implementing the new rules. So, the strike has been called off from tomorrow," Baba Shinde, president Maharashtra State Vehicle Drivers-Owners and Representatives Federation.

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A Central govt statement stated that the new law had not yet been brought into force and the All India Motor Transport Congress would be consulted before enforcing it and appealed to truckers to take back the strike.

Vehicle owners filled their fuel tanks on Tuesday due to a possible shortage today. Pic/Anurag Ahire

"We met the India Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla in Delhi regarding the new law for hit-and-run accidents. The Home Secretary told us that this law was not yet implemented and they were still taking suggestions from experts. The home secretary also told us that they would resolve this issue very soon. We are also ending our strikes and are appealing to all truck drivers to resume their work with immediate effect," said Bal Malkit Singh, chairman, Core Committee, All India
Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC).

School buses to be run as per fuel availability

Petrol pumps in the city also witnessed long queues on Tuesday as people came to fill up their vehicle tanks fearing a shortage of fuel amid the protest by truck drivers. Meanwhile, as school bus associations highlighted their situation, Maharashtra Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar misunderstood the entire issue and appealed that they not participate in the strike.

"We have already clarified that we are not participating in any strike. On Tuesday, 800 school buses were operated (as only some schools in the city had reopened after Christmas break), and they have lined up for refuelling. Even today school buses will run as per the availability of diesel. There are about 6,000 buses in Mumbai and about 40,000 in Maharashtra and it all depends on who manages to get fuel. We have conveyed the same to parents… that buses will be available as per the availability of diesel," said Anil Garg, president of the School Bus Owners' Association (SBOA), Maharashtra.

According to Garg, there is also an issue of security as there were violent protests on the highway near Goregaon yesterday. "The state government should provide security to school buses and there should be a police constable on every school bus," he said.

Uday Lodh, president of the Federation of All Maharashtra Petrol Dealers Association (FAMPEDA), said that the association does not support the strike by the truckers and has communicated to oil companies that dealers are risking their vehicles to transport fuel. "Mumbai has not faced any shortage of petrol as of now. We are not supporting this strike and are putting our vehicles at risk to ensure fuel supply remains continuous," Lodh said.

While MSRTC bus services may be affected, BEST says its operations will remain unaffected as it has a large number of electric buses.

However, Ali Darwala - national spokesperson for the All India Petrol Dealers Association - said there have been rumors that petrol and diesel will not be available for next three days. "But citizens may not worry as the district administration in Maharashtra has provided police protection to all the tankers bringing petrol and diesel to petrol pumps," he said.

At night, the Mumbai police Tweeted requesting Mumbaikars not to throng petrol/diesel /CNG pumps and indulge in panic buying. "Don't believe in rumours. There is enough fuel stock available in Mumbai and we are providing adequate security to the tankers supplying petroleum products in Mumbai. Please spread the word," the Tweet read.

Transporters and truckers are up in arms against a new law on hit-and-run cases under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which proposes 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for offenders. Transporters say the Act has been formulated without taking into account stakeholders' views, and due to the fear, existing drivers are ready to leave their jobs and are discouraging new drivers in the market which already has a short supply of heavy vehicle drivers. The transport body has shot off a letter to the prime minister and home minister of India expressing concern.

With inputs from Dipti Singh and Shirish Vaktania

40,000
No. of school buses in Maharashtra

Primary schools shut, CitiFlo services suspended

Due to non-availability of fuel owing to the strike, several schools have declared a holiday today (January 4) for lower classes (playgroups and primary sections). Some schools that were supposed to reopen after their winter / Christmas break have also deferred the same.

CityFlo also announced that they have suspended bus service for today. "In light of the ongoing heavy vehicles drivers' strike, our buses will remain non-operational on January 3 to ensure the safety of our passengers and drivers," a note said.