protests ,Truck drivers have expressed dissatisfaction with the stringent conditions of the new penalty law for ‘hit-and-run’ incidents, generating a wave of protest across numerous states. Long lineups at petrol pumps were seen in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and several other states, with residents fearing fuel supply problems in the coming days due to the ongoing protest.
The Criminal Procedure Code, which replaced the British-era Indian Penal Code (IPC), has provisions for up to ten years in prison for escaping the scene of an accident and failing to report it.
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Truck Drivers Protests in Maharashtra
On Monday, truck drivers in Maharashtra staged “road blockades” in various areas to protest the provisions of the new hit-and-run penalty law. According to officials, the protests caused fuel shortages in several areas. Truck drivers in Thane’s Mira-Bhayandar area briefly obstructed the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway, causing disruption and wounding a police officer during stone pelting and destroying a police vehicle.
Roadblocks were reported in the districts of Solapur, Kolhapur, Nagpur, and Gondia, with control measures in place in Navi Mumbai and other places.
Truck Drivers Protests in Chhattisgarh
Commercial bus and truck drivers in Chhattisgarh went on strike on Monday, demanding that the sections of the new penalty law relating to hit-and-run accidents be repealed. Over 12,000 private bus drivers in the state went on strike, stranding many passengers in places such as Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg, and Rajnandgaon.
As other plans were made to manage the issue, the protests disrupted traffic and inconvenienced travellers.
The state of West Bengal
Hundreds of truck and commercial vehicle drivers protesting the new hit-and-run penalty regulations blocked National Highway 2 near Dankuni Toll Plaza in West Bengal’s Hooghly district for almost two hours on Sunday. To register their outrage, demonstrators torched tyres and parked their vehicles on the road.
After negotiating with the demonstrators, police authorities lifted the blockade, and vehicular traffic resumed approximately 1:50 PM.
Punjab
In Punjab, a large number of commercial vehicles, including trucks and buses, did not operate on Monday in protest of new legislation governing hit-and-run accidents. Truck drivers started protests on the Ludhiana-Firozpur road in Moga, disrupting traffic.
According to transporters, truck drivers gathered near the Shambhu border in Ambala, which impacted truck noise levels.
Madhya Pradesh
Drivers in Bhopal held a protest at Lalghati, obstructing city buses and automobiles. Demonstrators also gathered in MP Nagar, Bhopal, at the Board Office Square. Because of fears about disruptions in fuel supplies in numerous locations, the protests caused traffic congestion in some places.
Buses were parked on the road at the Gangwal Bus Stand in Indore as part of a protest against hit-and-run cases and the new penalty regulations. Rajendra Kapoor, President of the All India Motor and Goods Transport Association, voiced concern, noting that the government should have communicated with stakeholders before making choices. He emphasised the need of discourse and guaranteed that the group had not officially proclaimed its opposition to the regulations, instead inviting debate on the subject.
In conclusion,
the recent surge of protests across various states in India reflects the deep-seated dissatisfaction among drivers and truck operators regarding the stringent hit-and-run provisions introduced in the new driving laws
The current state of affairs can be attributed in large part to the ineffective channels of communication that exist between governmental entities and transport partnerships.
Recognising the economic and logistical significance of the transport sector and holding candid discussions with industry representatives are imperative for authorities. A more reasonable and well-rounded regulatory framework might result from a cooperative effort to review and modify the controversial clauses while taking drivers’ real-world difficulties into account.
A solution that guarantees road safety without unfairly burdening drivers and operators will only be reached through a constructive debate between the government and transport groups in the coming days. The country hopes for a peaceful resolution that protects the rights of all parties and keeps the transportation industry operating smoothly.
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