Cab and auto drivers demand fare revision in Delhi NCR, announce three-day strike as fuel prices surge.
Cab, auto strike in Delhi NCR LIVE: Commuters across Delhi-NCR may have to prepare for longer waits, crowded public transport and possible disruptions over the next three days after commercial vehicle drivers’ unions announced a strike from May 21 to May 23, demanding a revision in fares amid rising fuel prices.
The strike call has been given by commercial vehicle unions, including the “Chalak Shakti Union”, which wrote to the Delhi Lieutenant Governor, Chief Minister, Transport Minister and Police Commissioner informing them about the agitation.
In the letter, the union said the strike was being organised “in solidarity with a nationwide agitation announced by the All India Motor Transport Congress”.
The union also argued that taxi and commercial vehicle fares in Delhi-NCR have remained unchanged for nearly 15 years despite the steady rise in prices of CNG, petrol and diesel.
According to the letter, repeated fuel price hikes have made it increasingly difficult for drivers to manage operating costs and sustain earnings.
Cab, auto strike from today: 10 points on what are the demands
1. The All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) called the three-day strike against the recent hike in environment compensation cess (ECC) on commercial vehicles and the proposed ban on older vehicles entering Delhi-NCR, while the Chalak Shakti Union backed the agitation and also raised concerns that cab and auto fares in Delhi-NCR have not been revised for nearly 15 years despite steep increases in petrol, diesel and CNG prices.
2. More than 68 transport unions in Delhi-NCR are participating in the strike, saying the new measures introduced by the Delhi government and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) will hurt transport operators and disrupt supply chains.
3. One of the key triggers is the increase in ECC charges from April 19. The cess on light commercial vehicles and two-axle trucks was raised from ₹1,400 to ₹2,000, while charges for three-axle and heavier vehicles went up from ₹2,600 to ₹4,000.
4. Transporters are also objecting to the government’s decision to increase the ECC by 5 per cent every year.
5. Another major concern is CAQM’s proposal to ban BS-4 and older commercial vehicles from entering Delhi-NCR from November 1, 2026, as part of pollution-control measures.
6. AIMTC has argued that the restrictions are unfair because they are based only on vehicle registration category and not on actual emissions. “Restrictions should only be implemented based on actual tailpipe emissions,” AIMTC president Rajender Kapoor said.
7. The transport body has also questioned why ECC is being imposed even on BS-6 vehicles, despite such vehicles being allowed during stricter pollution-control measures under GRAP guidelines.
8. Transport unions say the cess is being charged on all goods vehicles entering Delhi, including empty trucks arriving for loading and vehicles carrying essential commodities.
9. Cab and auto unions backing the strike have separately raised concerns over rising petrol, diesel and CNG prices, saying fares in Delhi-NCR have not been revised for nearly 15 years despite increasing operating costs.
10. Drivers say fuel prices, vehicle maintenance costs, app commissions and loan EMIs have made it difficult to survive. While the three-day strike is being described as “symbolic”, AIMTC has warned that transporters could launch an indefinite strike if their concerns are not addressed.
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The strike call has been given by commercial vehicle unions, including the “Chalak Shakti Union”, which wrote to the Delhi Lieutenant Governor, Chief Minister, Transport Minister and Police Commissioner informing them about the agitation.
In the letter, the union said the strike was being organised “in solidarity with a nationwide agitation announced by the All India Motor Transport Congress”.
The union also argued that taxi and commercial vehicle fares in Delhi-NCR have remained unchanged for nearly 15 years despite the steady rise in prices of CNG, petrol and diesel.
According to the letter, repeated fuel price hikes have made it increasingly difficult for drivers to manage operating costs and sustain earnings.
Cab, auto strike from today: 10 points on what are the demands
1. The All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) called the three-day strike against the recent hike in environment compensation cess (ECC) on commercial vehicles and the proposed ban on older vehicles entering Delhi-NCR, while the Chalak Shakti Union backed the agitation and also raised concerns that cab and auto fares in Delhi-NCR have not been revised for nearly 15 years despite steep increases in petrol, diesel and CNG prices.
2. More than 68 transport unions in Delhi-NCR are participating in the strike, saying the new measures introduced by the Delhi government and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) will hurt transport operators and disrupt supply chains.
3. One of the key triggers is the increase in ECC charges from April 19. The cess on light commercial vehicles and two-axle trucks was raised from ₹1,400 to ₹2,000, while charges for three-axle and heavier vehicles went up from ₹2,600 to ₹4,000.
4. Transporters are also objecting to the government’s decision to increase the ECC by 5 per cent every year.
5. Another major concern is CAQM’s proposal to ban BS-4 and older commercial vehicles from entering Delhi-NCR from November 1, 2026, as part of pollution-control measures.
6. AIMTC has argued that the restrictions are unfair because they are based only on vehicle registration category and not on actual emissions. “Restrictions should only be implemented based on actual tailpipe emissions,” AIMTC president Rajender Kapoor said.
7. The transport body has also questioned why ECC is being imposed even on BS-6 vehicles, despite such vehicles being allowed during stricter pollution-control measures under GRAP guidelines.
8. Transport unions say the cess is being charged on all goods vehicles entering Delhi, including empty trucks arriving for loading and vehicles carrying essential commodities.
9. Cab and auto unions backing the strike have separately raised concerns over rising petrol, diesel and CNG prices, saying fares in Delhi-NCR have not been revised for nearly 15 years despite increasing operating costs.
10. Drivers say fuel prices, vehicle maintenance costs, app commissions and loan EMIs have made it difficult to survive. While the three-day strike is being described as “symbolic”, AIMTC has warned that transporters could launch an indefinite strike if their concerns are not addressed.
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May 21, 2026 7:16:34 AM IST
Cab, auto strike in Delhi NCR LIVE: ‘Drivers are on the verge of starvation,’ says Chalak Shakti Union vice-president
Cab, auto strike in Delhi NCR LIVE: The Chalak Shakti Union on Wednesday threw its full support behind the three-day nationwide transport strike from May 21 to 23, saying cab and auto drivers in Delhi are struggling to survive due to stagnant fares and rising expenses.
Speaking on the strike call to news agency ANI, Chalak Shakti Union vice-president Anuj Kumar Rathore said taxi fares in Delhi have not been revised since the City Taxi Scheme was implemented nearly 15 years ago.
“It has now been 15 years that the Delhi government implemented the City Taxi Scheme, but has not increased the fares. Today, all drivers are on the verge of starvation,” Rathore said.
Backing the nationwide strike call given by the AIMTC, Rathore said all transport unions and organisations in Delhi had extended support to the protest.
“We are working shifts of twelve or ten hours, yet we still cannot make ends meet,” he said, demanding that the government revise fare rates to help drivers sustain their livelihoods.
The union also demanded stricter regulation of app-based cab aggregators. “We demand that pressure be put upon online companies such as Ola, Uber, and Rapido, to ensure they adhere to the fare structure,” Rathore said.
He reiterated the union’s support for the nationwide “Chakka Jam” planned for May 21, 22 and 23.
May 21, 2026 7:10:44 AM IST
Cab, auto strike in Delhi NCR LIVE: What are the demands?
Cab, auto strike in Delhi NCR LIVE: Transport unions participating in the three-day Delhi-NCR strike are demanding a rollback of the recent hike in environment compensation cess (ECC) imposed on commercial vehicles entering Delhi and are opposing the proposed ban on BS-4 and older vehicles from entering the Capital from November 2026.
The All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) has argued that the higher ECC charges will increase operational costs for transporters and affect supply chains across the region. The body has also objected to the decision to impose the levy on all goods vehicles, including empty trucks and vehicles carrying essential commodities.
Another major demand is the withdrawal or reconsideration of the proposed restrictions on BS-4 vehicles. Transporters say the proposed ban is based only on registration category and not on actual emissions.
Cab and auto unions backing the protest have also demanded a revision in fares, saying rates in Delhi-NCR have not been updated for nearly 15 years despite repeated increases in petrol, diesel and CNG prices.
Drivers say rising fuel costs, vehicle maintenance expenses, app commissions and loan EMIs are making it difficult to sustain daily operations.
May 21, 2026 7:02:12 AM IST
Cab, auto strike in Delhi NCR LIVE: Commuters fear longer waits, higher fares amid strike call
Cab, auto strike in Delhi NCR LIVE: As the three-day cab and auto strike looms over Delhi-NCR, commuters say they are already feeling the impact through rising fares and longer waiting times.
Priya Mehra, a 29-year-old marketing executive who travels daily from Lajpat Nagar to Nehru Place, says ride availability had become difficult even before the strike announcement. “A strike is the last thing we want. It just makes everything more uncertain. Autos are anyhow barely available now as you keep waiting, and if you do get one, the fare is already high or they refuse short distances,” she says.
Priya says if the strike goes ahead, she will have to rely entirely on the Metro for her office commute, “which means at least 45 minutes extra travel each way,” she adds.
Daily office-goers dependent on app-based cabs also say fares have climbed sharply in recent days. Ananya Mehra, an IT professional commuting from Rajouri Garden to Gurugram, says peak-hour rides are becoming increasingly expensive.
“My office commute from Rajouri Garden to Gurugram usually cost around ₹320-350 a few days ago, but now it touches ₹430-450 during peak hours,” she says. “Even short distances have become expensive because fares keep fluctuating through the day.”
– inputs from Karan Sethi
May 21, 2026 6:50:10 AM IST
Cab, auto strike in Delhi NCR LIVE: When is the Delhi-NCR transport strike?
Cab, auto strike in Delhi NCR LIVE: The three-day transport strike across Delhi-NCR will begin on May 21 and continue till May 23. The protest has been called by the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), with support from several commercial vehicle and driver unions, including the Chalak Shakti Union.
More than 68 transport unions in the region are expected to participate. The strike is aimed at protesting the recent hike in environment compensation cess (ECC) on commercial vehicles, the proposed ban on older vehicles entering Delhi-NCR, and the lack of fare revision for cabs and autos despite rising fuel prices.
May 21, 2026 6:35:46 AM IST
Cab, auto strike in Delhi NCR LIVE: Fuel prices in Delhi today
Cab, auto strike in Delhi NCR LIVE: Fuel prices in Delhi remained high on Wednesday after recent hikes over the past week.
Petrol in Delhi now costs ₹98.64 per litre, up from ₹97.77 earlier, while diesel is retailing at ₹91.58 per litre from ₹90.67 previously. Overall, fuel prices have risen by nearly ₹4 per litre in the last few days.
CNG prices have also increased. After two hikes within 48 hours on Sunday, CNG in Delhi is now priced at ₹80.09 per kilogram following a total increase of ₹3.
The rise in petrol, diesel and CNG prices has become a key issue for commercial vehicle drivers’ unions, which have called for a fare revision and announced a three-day strike from May 21 to 23.
