Marathi Kamgar Sena to protest in Mumbai on Oct 5 against overloading and 'corruption'

A sit-in protest is scheduled to take place outside the Transport Commissioner’s office in Bandra on October 5. Representational Pic/File

The Marathi Kamgar Sena will stage a sit-in protest outside the Transport Commissioner's office in Bandra on Monday, October 5, against alleged overloading of commercial vehicles, corruption within the Regional Transport Office (RTO) system across Maharashtra and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

The organisation has alleged that commercial vehicles carrying cargo beyond their permitted capacity are operating extensively across the state.

Speaking to Mid-Day, Marathi Kamgar Sena working president Sudhir Ramhari Navale said repeated representations to the authorities had failed to result in concrete action.

"We have decided to stage a sit-in protest after repeated representations to the administration have failed to result in concrete action," Navale said.

He alleged that overloading was contributing to road damage and increasing the risk of serious accidents.

Union seeks inquiry into alleged network

The Marathi Kamgar Sena has also alleged the involvement of middlemen, agents and certain RTO officials in facilitating overloading and allegedly collecting illegal payments.

The organisation has demanded a high-level inquiry into the alleged network and called for criminal cases to be registered against those found responsible.

The allegations have not been independently verified.

Demand for permanent cancellation of permits

The organisation has also demanded the permanent cancellation of permits of vehicles that have been penalised for overloading on two or more occasions.

It argued that imposing fines alone had failed to deter repeat violations and called for stricter action against habitual offenders.

Transport department seeks specific evidence

The Marathi Kamgar Sena claimed that complaints had been submitted to the transport authorities and RTO administration on several occasions, but alleged that effective action had not followed.

Transport department officials, however, said the allegations were general in nature and that specific instances of alleged malpractice had been sought.

"We will discuss with the delegation about the allegations and, depending on the evidence and issues raised, decide on the future course of action," a transport department official said.

The sit-in protest is scheduled to take place outside the Transport Commissioner's office in Bandra on October 5.