Commercial vehicle drivers’ unions in Delhi have announced a three-day strike from May 21 to 23, demanding an immediate revision in taxi and auto-rickshaw fares due to rising fuel prices and increasing financial pressure on drivers.
The protest has been called by multiple transport unions, including the Chaalak Shakti Union, which said drivers are struggling to manage daily expenses as prices of CNG, petrol and diesel continue to rise. The unions submitted a letter to Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta outlining their demands.
Why drivers are protesting
According to NDTV Profit's reports, unions said that taxi and auto fares in Delhi-NCR have not been revised for nearly 15 years despite steep rises in fuel costs, inflation, and vehicle maintenance expenses. Drivers also claimed that insurance charges, permits and fitness certificate costs have increased significantly over the years.
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“Due to the continuously increasing prices of CNG, petrol and diesel, middle-class drivers are struggling to support their families,” said Anuj Kumar Rathore, vice-president of the Chaalak Shakti Union.
The unions warned that if the government fails to revise fares and issue a notification within the next one or two weeks, the protest could intensify further.
Concerns over app-based cab services
As per NDTV profit quoted on their report, transport unions also accused app-based cab aggregators such as Ola, Uber and Rapido of “economic exploitation” of drivers. According to the unions, ride-hailing platforms have increased customer fares while drivers continue to face shrinking earnings and difficult working conditions.
The letter submitted by the unions stated that drivers in Delhi-NCR were becoming victims of “slavery-like conditions” because of arbitrary policies followed by app-based companies.
Protest planned at Delhi Secretariat
As per NDTV Profit's reports, along with the strike, the unions have also announced a protest demonstration at the Delhi Secretariat on May 23. The strike is expected to affect daily commuters across Delhi-NCR if a resolution is not reached before May 21.
The protest announcement comes days after petrol and diesel prices were increased again across the country. In Delhi, petrol prices reportedly rose to Rs 98.64 per litre, while diesel climbed to Rs 91.58 per litre.
