School bus transportation across Maharashtra is expected to face major disruption starting tomorrow, as the Maharashtra School Bus Owners Association has announced an indefinite strike beginning July 2. The decision was formally declared by the association's president, Anil Garg, bringing the issue of student transportation into the spotlight.
The striking bus drivers have cited government apathy toward their long-standing demands as the reason for the protest. “The government is consistently ignoring our issues,” said members of the association, highlighting problems related to traffic regulations, heavy fines, and the issuance of e-challans as key grievances.
Drivers allege that e-challans are being issued arbitrarily by traffic police and CCTV surveillance systems—even while buses are temporarily halted outside schools for student pick-up and drop-off. They have demanded that pending e-challans against school buses be waived, and that a stay be placed on further penalties until clear guidelines are established.
Among other demands, the association is urging the government to:
Designate fixed pick-up and drop-off zones for school buses
Form a joint task force to address transport-related challenges
Improve communication and policy implementation regarding school transport rules
In response, the Maharashtra government has proposed the formation of a new committee to review the situation and work toward a resolution. However, the strike decision has triggered growing concern among parents, many of whom now face uncertainty over how to safely transport their children to and from school.