The All India Motor Transport Congress has called for a walkout to protest provisions in the new law, which has yet to take effect.
The statewide strike by transport associations and drivers entered its second day in a widespread protest against the newly adopted Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), causing interruptions in gasoline supplies and long lines at petrol pumps in several cities.
The BNS, which recently replaced the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, has implemented harsh punishments for hit-and-run incidents, focusing on motorists involved in serious road accidents who depart the scene without reporting the occurrence to authorities. Individuals guilty for such incidents might face up to ten years in prison and a heavy fine of Rs. 7 lakh under the new rule.
Maharashtra
In reaction to the ongoing protest, the Maharashtra government has asked the police to make sure that there is a constant supply of LPG, fuel, and gasoline cylinders in order to prevent shortages.
Authorities have reported that the strike has caused delays in the delivery of LPG cylinders to customers. It is said that striking packed lorry drivers are failing to report to the factory, which is impeding the distribution process.
According to the letter sent to all police commissioners and superintendents of police by the Maharashtra Food, Civil Supply, and Consumer Protection Department, the effects go beyond LPG and also include other essential petroleum products including gasoline, diesel, and kerosene.
Gujarat
Protesters on Monday deliberately positioned cars to obstruct highways that travel through the districts of Kheda, Valsad, Gir Somnath, Bharuch, and Mehsana. This caused traffic jams on routes like the Mehsana-Ambaji highway in Mehsana and the Ahmedabad-Indore highway in Kheda. The Ahmedabad-Vadodara highway near Kanera hamlet saw a 10-kilometer traffic standstill due to burning tires that momentarily blocked major roads.
Social media users shared videos of the protests, showing the lengthy line of parked vehicles, and warned commuters to avoid the impacted routes.
Rajasthan
Traffic congestion were recorded on important highway routes in Rajasthan, including the Dholpur-Karauli road, the Udaipur-Nathdwara route, the Sawai Madhopur-Kota Lalsot route, the Bhilwara-Ajmer route, and the Anupgarh-Ganganagar route.
“There were jams on several routes due to the protest,” said Ashutosh Awana, spokesperson for the Rajasthan State Roadways Transport Corporation. The operation of highway buses was disrupted, but it was restored following police involvement.”
He informed the public that the current transporter demonstrations would not have an influence on the operation of highway buses in the region.