Delhi-NCR Taxi-Auto Strike Highlights: Taxi drivers protest falling fide fares, demand government intervention

Anuj Kumar Rathore, vice-president of the Chaalak Shakti Union, said that due to the continuously increasing prices of CNG, petrol and diesel, middle-class drivers are struggling to support their families.

Several commuters faced difficulties at New Delhi Railway Station amid a three-day strike by transport and taxi unions across Delhi-NCR. 

Near the New Delhi railway station, some taxis were seen operating on Thursday morning, while several others remained off the roads as the three-day strike unfolded.

Autos and local taxis: Several auto unions have extended their support for the strike announced by transport unions. Thousands of auto-rickshaws and city taxis are staying off the roads, severely impacting office-goers, students, and general commuters.  

App-based cabs: App-based aggregators may face massive disruptions as users are likely to experience severe vehicle shortages, prolonged wait times, and heavy surge pricing throughout the day.  

Airport and railway station transport: Travellers heading to or from Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport and major railway stations -- New Delhi, Old Delhi, Nizamuddin --  may also face significant trouble finding local last-mile connectivity.

A section of auto-rickshaw unions distanced itself from the three-day strike, saying that the auto-rickshaw service will be normal, as the strike pertains to transporters.

"The issues concerning goods carrier vehicles have been ongoing for the past 15 to 20 days and have no connection with auto and taxi drivers. Auto and taxi services will continue to operate normally at all railway stations, bus terminals and other locations as usual," Rajendra Soni, general secretary, Auto Rickshaw Sangh, said.

A taxi driver in Delhi, Dinesh Kumar, said the fares were inadequate and drivers were not getting enough rides to earn well. “There is no proper pricing in the market. We do not even get many rides. I would appeal to the government to pay some attention to taxi fares as well,” he said.

A statement issued by the protesting unions said, "The CAQM and the Delhi government have indiscriminately imposed the cess hike on all Delhi-bound goods vehicles, rather than deterring transit vehicles using Delhi as a corridor in line with the original intent of the Supreme Court order and to divert them to the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways". 

They added "these measures have caused serious socioeconomic consequences", severely impacting the transport sector and the livelihoods of operators.

The transport union has put forward a list of demands:

Withdrawal of the hike in environment compensation cess imposed on all Delhi-bound goods vehicles.

Immediate rollback of the proposed ban on entry of non-Delhi registered BS-IV commercial goods vehicles from November 1.

Restrict the cess only to those vehicles passing through Delhi.

The strike called by the apex body of truckers, private buses, taxi and maxi cab operators is being supported by as many as 68 transport associations and unions across Delhi-NCR, according to the organisers. They have announced a suspension of services for three days from May 21 to May 23.

The strike, announced by the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), is being held from May 21 to May 23 in protest against the Delhi government’s decision to hike the environmental compensation cess on commercial vehicles.