Transport Strike: Maharashtra State Bus Services to Halt Statewide as MSRTC, School Bus Strike Looms

Parents and students across Maharashtra are watching closely as transport unions prepare a state wide strike over the e-challan system from midnight on March 5, 2026. The action may disrupt school transport on March 6, 2026, yet no official holiday has been declared.

According to current information, the Maharashtra government and school administrations have not ordered any blanket closure for March 5 or March 6, 2026. Many families are waiting for clarity on whether classes will shift online or continue as usual if buses and cabs stay off roads.

Maharashtra transport strike and possible impact on public and school travel

The Maharashtra transport action committee (M-TAC) has called an indefinite protest after talks with officials at the Transport Commissioner’s office on Wednesday ended without agreement. M-TAC says the strike will begin from midnight on March 5, 2026, and will continue until authorities respond.

Truck operators, tempo owners, tourist buses, school bus operators, taxi drivers, private cab aggregators and autorickshaw unions are expected to participate. The combined action could reduce the number of vehicles on roads and affect cargo movement, city commuting and, most critically for families, school transport services.

Maharashtra transport strike and key e-challan demands by unions

At the centre of the dispute is the e-challan system. Transporters allege that it is being misused and that drivers are receiving repeated fines and facing harassment. Unions have listed several specific demands regarding e-challans for the state government to consider.

The main points raised by the transport unions regarding e-challans are listed below.

Maharashtra transport strike and school bus operations across the state

Protest actions are planned at Azad Maidan in Mumbai and outside Regional Transport Office premises statewide. Demonstrators have also warned that they may bring vehicles to important locations, which could slow traffic and increase uncertainty for commuters and parents on March 6, 2026.

Anil Garg, a leader of the School Bus Owners Association, stated that if the strike goes ahead, school buses across Maharashtra will not run from Friday. Garg also mentioned that services would function normally on Thursday, giving schools and parents limited time to arrange other travel options.

Union members believe regular commuters and pedestrians might not feel the impact as strongly as students who depend on school buses. However, a large number of taxis, cabs and autorickshaws joining the Maharashtra transport action committee (M-TAC) strike could still cause wider travel delays in major cities.

For now, the Maharashtra transport strike remains scheduled from midnight on March 5, 2026, while talks over e-challan penalties continue. Families are advised to track announcements from schools and local authorities, as any decision on shifting to online classes or suspending physical attendance will depend on how strongly services are affected on March 6, 2026.