Commercial vehicle drivers in Delhi-NCR have announced a three-day strike from May 21 to May 23, demanding an immediate revision in taxi and auto fares amid rising fuel prices and increasing operational costs.
The strike call was issued by the Chalak Shakti Union in support of a nationwide protest announced by the All India Motor Transport Congress. The union submitted a letter to the Delhi Lieutenant Governor, Chief Minister, Transport Minister and Police Commissioner outlining its demands and concerns.
According to the union, taxi and auto fares in Delhi-NCR have not been revised for nearly 15 years despite a sharp increase in the prices of CNG, petrol and diesel. The union also cited rising expenditure on vehicle maintenance, insurance, permits, fitness certificates and other daily operational expenses.
The drivers’ body alleged that many commercial vehicle operators were facing severe financial hardship and struggling to sustain their families under the current fare structure.
“Taxi fares are still being charged at old rates despite rising inflation, which has severely affected the livelihood of drivers,” the union said in its letter.
The union also accused app-based cab aggregators such as Ola, Uber and Rapido of functioning arbitrarily and contributing to the economic exploitation of drivers in the region.
“App-based companies like Ola, Uber and Rapido are operating arbitrarily, and drivers in Delhi-NCR are becoming victims of serious economic exploitation,” the union alleged.
The organisation warned that the agitation could intensify if the Delhi government failed to revise fares immediately. It also sought a formal meeting with government representatives to discuss driver welfare issues and formulate policies aimed at preventing alleged exploitation by app-based platforms.
The announcement of the strike comes at a time when fuel prices have again increased across the country. Petrol and diesel prices were raised by an average of around 90 paise per litre on Tuesday.
In Delhi, petrol prices increased from Rs 97.77 per litre to Rs 98.64 per litre, while diesel prices rose from Rs 90.67 to Rs 91.58 per litre.
The proposed strike is expected to impact daily commuters across Delhi-NCR if negotiations between the unions and authorities fail before May 21.
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