Maharashtra School Bus Strike: Statewide Indefinite Strike by Bus Operators From July 2 — What Are Their Key Demands?
Heavy Vehicle Operators Begin Indefinite Strike; School and Passenger Transport Unions Temporarily Withdraw
Pune, June 30, 2025 — The School Bus Owners Association of Maharashtra has announced an indefinite statewide strike starting July 2, 2025, citing excessive e-challans and inadequate parking infrastructure as their primary grievances. The decision threatens to disrupt transport arrangements for thousands of students at the very start of the new academic session.
According to Anil Garg, president of the association, bus operators have been facing repeated fines through e-challans issued by traffic police and CCTV surveillance systems — particularly for briefly stopping outside school gates to pick up or drop off students. “In many cases, multiple e-challans are issued on the same day for the same route, making operations financially unsustainable,” Garg said. “We hope for immediate intervention from the honourable chief minister and transport minister to avoid inconvenience to students and parents across Maharashtra.”
The association has raised four key demands:
- Immediate waiver of e-challans: Cancellation of all pending e-challans related to routine pick-up and drop-off near schools.
- Moratorium on new e-challans: Suspension of new e-challans until designated school pick-up and drop-off zones are clearly marked.
- Formation of a joint task force: Establishment of a task force including government officials, RTO representatives, police, and transport unions to devise long-term solutions.
- Protection for bus operators: Measures to ensure operators are not penalised for performing essential student transport duties.
In response, the Maharashtra government has proposed forming a committee to study the issue and submit a report within 30 days. However, with schools reopening and daily commutes at risk, bus owners are pressing for immediate and interim relief.
So far, the state government has not issued any further official statement on the matter. Meanwhile, parents, schools, and students remain concerned about possible disruption to daily transport as the strike looms.
