Trucks, Punjab Roadways Buses Off Road In Protest Against New Laws For Hit-and-Run

Chandigarh: Truck and bus drivers in Punjab on Tuesday took to streets and declared a strike against the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, a law set to replace the Indian Penal Code. The new provision imposes severe penalties, including up to 10 years in prison and a ₹7 lakh fine, for drivers causing serious road accidents through negligent driving and fleeing the scene without informing authorities.

The strike has led to commercial vehicles, such as trucks and buses, staying off the roads across Punjab. Protesters, particularly truck drivers, have blocked traffic on the Ludhiana-Ferozepur Road in Moga, and at the Shambhu border near Ambala, where trucks are being prevented from proceeding. Support for the protest is reportedly growing among drivers of Punjab Roadways, PRTC, and private bus companies.

Transporters anticipate that the strike's impact will be noticeable from Tuesday, affecting the supply of essential commodities. Happy Sandhu, the president of the Punjab truck union, expressed concern over the new laws, stating, "No driver would be able to pay a huge fine, and in such a case, he would be forced to spend his life in prison." Sandhu announced plans to block the Nakodar highway on January 10 and the Delhi-Jammu national highway on January 18. Despite the disruption to the supply chain, the protest against the laws is set to continue at both the national and state levels. Sandhu emphasized the necessity of the protest, citing concerns about the survival of drivers and operators under the new regulations.