School buses to join statewide strike on March 8

The School Bus Owners Association (SBOA) has said that it will be supporting the statewide strike called by bus owners association on March 8.

The bus strike is aimed at protesting the changes in the Motor Vehicle Act that will affect trucks, tempos, tankers and buses in the state. The changes include introduction of various fees and proposal for increase in Bureau of Motor Vehicle (BMV) taxes for private passenger buses. The SBOA has said that all its buses including those that were to go for excursions will also be off the roads.

According to Pushparaj Shetty of the Maharashtra Rajya Truck Tempo Tanker Bus Vahatuk Mahasangh, a meeting was held at Vashi, Navi Mumbai on February 27 to discuss the course of action against increase of various fees and proposal for increase in BMV taxes for private passenger buses. “While registering a new vehicle or renewing it the government charges excise tax and registration fee. However the fees are different for passenger and recreational vehicles that the government plans to increase by making changes to the Motor Vehicle Act. It will put a strain on the already burdened owners and hence to oppose the same the Mahasangh has decided to hold a token strike on March 8,” said Mr Shetty.

Confirming its support for the strike and and its participation in it, Anil Garg, SBOA president, said that as school buses also came under the passenger and recreational vehicle category they would be supporting the strike. “Our demands include those of the Mahasangh as well as our own demands. We have been asking for the school vans that ferry school students to be brought under the school bus safety act, however the government has done nothing about it. By lending support to the Mahasangh we hope that our own demands are also addressed by the government, failing which we will have to have another strike,” said Mr Garg.

He added that schools that have been using buses affiliated to SBOA have been informed of the same and have also been asked to inform the students and parents to make alternate arrangements. “Schools that had planned excursions and picnics have also been asked to postpone the trip planned on March 8 as all buses that include luxury buses will be participating in the strike,” said Mr Garg.