Delhi taxi drivers to go on 3-day strike from May 21, demand fare hike

The All India Motor Transport Congress on Monday wrote to Delhi Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, seeking intervention and urging the government to notify the revised fares.

In Short

• Drivers unions demand immediate taxi and auto fare hike after fuel surge
• CNG, petrol and diesel price rise in Delhi triggers transport workers’ protest
• Delhi taxi drivers warn of larger agitation if fare revision is delayed

Delhi residents better buckle up to further feel a financial pinch as commercial vehicle drivers’ unions in the city have announced a three-day strike from May 21 to May 23, pressing for an immediate hike in taxi and auto fares as fuel prices continue to rise. The move is expected to affect daily commuters across the national capital, especially those dependent on taxis and auto-rickshaws for local travel.

The protest call comes after a fresh increase in petrol, diesel and CNG prices this week, the second hike within days.

In Delhi, petrol rose to Rs 98.64 per litre from Rs 97.77, while diesel increased to Rs 91.58 from Rs 90.67 with fresh rates applicable from Tuesday.

The latest revision followed a Rs 3-per-litre increase announced last Friday. CNG, the primary fuel used by most Delhi taxis and auto-rickshaws, also became costlier, with prices increasing by Rs 2 per kg to Rs 87.

The West Asia conflict, the blockade of the key oil shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz and the expiry of the US sanction waiver on Russian crude oil imports are the primary reasons behind the fuel price hike.

The All India Motor Transport Congress on Monday wrote to Delhi Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, seeking intervention and urging the government to notify the revised fares.

Announcing the strike, Anuj Kumar Rathore, vice-president of the Chaalak Shakti Union, said, "Due to the continuously increasing prices of CNG, petrol and diesel, middle-class drivers are struggling to support their families. Therefore, in coordination with other organisations of Delhi, the 'Chaalak Shakti Union' has called for a Chakka Jam (strike) and appealed not to operate vehicles on May 21, 22 and 23".

He further warned, "If the government does not immediately increase taxi fares and issue a notification within one or two weeks, this movement will be intensified into a large-scale protest, for which the Delhi government solely would be responsible".

The unions said fare rates for city taxis in Delhi-NCR have not been revised in the last 15 years despite a sharp increase in operating costs.

Drivers also demanded that "strong policies be formulated to stop the economic exploitation of taxi drivers".

The unions alleged that app-based cab aggregators have been increasing customer fares while drivers continue to face reduced earnings.

They claimed taxi drivers in the city are "becoming victims of economic exploitation and slavery-like conditions".

The issue had reached the Delhi High Court last year, with unions claiming the court had directed the government to address the matter. However, they alleged the fare revision proposal remains pending.

A protest has also been planned at the Delhi Secretariat on May 23. If the government agrees to the demand, residents are likely to face higher taxi and auto fares, raising travel expenses amid already increasing household costs.

- Ends
With PTI inputs