Mumbai News: Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik Urges Police, Transport Department To Resolve Parking Issues For School Vans, Trucks And Tankers

Mumbai: Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has directed the police and transport departments to make arrangements for the parking of school vans, goods carriers (trucks), and water tankers. He urged that no unnecessary penalties be imposed on the owners of these vehicles by the authorities.

The minister also informed that a joint committee report, involving government officials and transport representatives, will be submitted within a month to address the challenges faced by transporters.

In a bid to resolve ongoing issues, the school bus operators have called off their strike. Sarnaik also indicated that other transport organizations could be given separate time slots for discussions. Furthermore, he appealed to transporters to refrain from going on hunger strikes or initiating other protests.

A meeting chaired by Transport Minister Sarnaik was held in the Legislative Assembly Committee room. The session saw the participation of several key officials, including Minister of State for Home, Yogesh Kadam, Additional Chief Secretary for the Home Department Iqbal Singh Chahal, and Transport Commissioner Vivek Bhimnawar.

Minister Sarnaik emphasized that the government is committed to solving the problems faced by transporters. The committee set up for this purpose will also include representatives from tanker transporters and other sectors. Sarnaik noted that the growth of trade benefits the state, and transporters play a vital role in facilitating business expansion. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has also assured that decisions favorable to transporters will be made.

"Protecting transporters and ensuring their participation in the state's development is the government's responsibility," Sarnaik added.

Minister of State Yogesh Kadam addressed the issue of parking spaces for private buses, school buses, and BEST buses in Mumbai. He highlighted the urgent need for designated parking areas for the thousands of buses operating in the city. A joint meeting will be convened between the municipal, police, and transport departments to address these concerns.

Currently, over 10,000 private buses operate in Mumbai daily, making the parking issue critical. Kadam suggested making necessary changes to improve bus stops and facilitate better entry and exit for passengers.

In response to the growing demand for parking solutions, Kadam proposed the creation of dedicated transport parking hubs and requested that the required space be identified promptly. He also emphasized that the city’s master plan should reserve spaces for these hubs.

“The government's primary goal is to streamline the city’s transport system and create the necessary infrastructure for private bus operations. Concrete steps will be taken in this direction soon,” Kadam said.

Representatives from various transport organizations, including the All India Motor Transport Congress, Mumbai Bus Owners Association, Federation of Tourist Taxi Operators, School Bus Association of Maharashtra, Maharashtra Truck and Lorry Owners Association, and the Maharashtra Heavy Vehicle Interstate Container Association, were present at the meeting. They responded positively to the appeal for ending the strike and expressed their willingness to engage in further discussions with the government.