Delhi: Commuters across Delhi and the National Capital Region are likely to face major inconvenience as commercial transport unions have launched a three-day strike beginning May 21, suspending several taxi, cab and auto-rickshaw services.
The protest, called by more than 60 transport associations under the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) and the United Front of All Transport Associations (UFTA), has been organised to highlight mounting financial pressure on drivers due to rising fuel costs and unchanged fare structures.
Union leaders say taxi and auto fares have remained stagnant for over a decade despite repeated hikes in CNG prices, insurance charges, permit fees and maintenance expenses. They argue that operators are struggling to sustain their livelihoods as operational costs continue to climb.
Speaking on the issue, representatives of driver associations said the current earnings are no longer sufficient to support families, adding that repeated appeals to revise fares have not received a meaningful response from the authorities.
The protest is expected to see participation from nearly four lakh registered commercial vehicle owners across Delhi-NCR. Cab aggregators, local taxi services and auto-rickshaw operations are likely to witness sharp disruptions during peak travel hours over the next three days.
The transport bodies have formally written to Delhi’s top administration, demanding immediate fare rationalisation, withdrawal of enhanced congestion charges and a review of regulatory restrictions affecting commercial vehicles.
Union members warned that if the government does not notify revised fare rates within the next two weeks, the agitation could intensify further.
While the strike is likely to affect app-based cab bookings and local taxi availability, public transport systems such as Delhi Metro and DTC bus services are expected to function normally, offering partial relief to daily commuters.
