With the nationwide transportation strike entering its second day on Tuesday, vehicles lined up outside petrol pumps as fuel supply was impacted in cities across the country. The three-day strike was launched by truck, bus and tanker drivers to protest against the stringent jail and fine regulations under the newly-launched Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) for hit-and-run cases.

 

In Maharashtra, the state government has requested police to ensure an uninterrupted supply of petrol and diesel. Meanwhile, commuters in Madhya Pradesh encountered travel inconvenience on Tuesday due to ongoing strikes.

 

Since Monday, protestors have blockaded roads and highways across states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and MP. Concerned locals hurried to petrol pumps in various cities, fearing disruptions in fuel supply due to the agitation.

 

Under the new law, which replaced the colonial era Indian Penal Code, drivers who cause a serious road accident by negligent driving and run away without informing the police or any official from the administration can face punishment of up to 10 years or a fine of Rs 7 lakh.

 

A video circulating on social media from Bhopal this morning captured commuters expressing frustration over the inability to find buses or taxis for travel to Indore after waiting for 1-1.5 hours.

 

Meanwhile, lengthy queues formed at petrol pumps in Himachal’s Dharamshala and Nagpur, Maharashtra, as drivers associated with the Transport Association protested against the new hit-and-run law on Tuesday

 

 

Protesters obstructed highways in several districts of Gujarat, including Kheda, Valsad, Gir Somnath, Bharuch, and Mehsana, by parking vehicles and setting up blockades on Monday. They temporarily blocked major routes like the Mehsana-Ambaji and Ahmedabad-Indore highways with burning tires, causing disruptions.

Tapan Sharma, a former president of the Ahmedabad Motor Transport Association in Gujarat, told PTI that the protests occurred spontaneously. “The association has not called for a strike. Drivers are acting independently due to concerns about the new law. They protest briefly and then move on. However, these sporadic demonstrations have caused delays in the delivery of goods,” Sharma explained.

He added that business operations had not yet been significantly affected as drivers continued their work despite protests.

In Maharashtra, the Food and Civil Supply Department urged the police to take necessary measures to ensure a smooth and uninterrupted supply of petrol, diesel, kerosene, and LPG cylinders.

In an interview with PTI, C L Mukati, chairman of the transport committee of All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), said, “Before introducing stringent provisions in hit-and-run accident cases akin to laws in other countries, the government should prioritize improving road and transportation systems, similar to those seen in foreign nations.”

The operation of roadway buses in Rajasthan faced disruption on Monday but resumed following police intervention. In various locations like the Mumbai-Agra National Highway and certain roads in Indore, drivers staged blockades, impacting vehicle movement and the distribution of essential commodities.