Strike to hit school buses, water tankers

MUMBAI: Private school bus contractors, a section of water tanker suppliers and private tourist buses have decided to join the nationwide transporters’ strike from early Friday morning.
The indefinite strike, called by the All-India Motor Transport Congress, is expected to put 93 lakh trucks, trailers and other heavy goods vehicles off-roads from Friday onwards.In Maharashtra, nearly 16 lakh trucks will participate in the stir and refrain from transporting manufacturing and industrial goods, which is expected to affect the importexport trade in Mumbai.

Transporters of essential goods such as milk, bread, vegetables, fruits and other commodities have been “exempted” from the strike, the protestors said. Said Anil Garg of the School Bus Owners' Association: "School-owned buses will be plying on Friday while buses run by private contractors will participate in the stir to oppose diesel hikes and hefty toll charges. These buses will not be available to pick up and drop children and parents are requested to make alternative arrangements."
Schools which use buses by private contractors have asked parents to make their own arrangements for Friday. “Since the operators informed us, we sent a message to parents to avoid any trouble to students," said Zeenat Bhojabhoy, principal, Jamnabai Narsee School, Vile Parle. Parents at Bai Avabai Petit Girls’ High School, Bandra, too have been asked to drop and pick children up.
Mumbai Water Tanker Association president Jasbir Singh Bira said there will be a shortage of water tankers in Mumbai. “It will affect a few areas in south Mumbai, which depend on tankers.”
Anurag Sinha, IT professional from Andheri, said, “We are opposed to the participation in the strike by school bus operators, especially in the monsoon.”
Homemaker Neelam Mepani said, “We hope that supplies of essential goods is not affected, and there is no price rise due to the agitation. Such strikes lead to vendors escalating fruit and vegetable prices.”