Cab and auto drivers demand fare revision in Delhi NCR, announce three-day strike as fuel prices rise.
Cab, auto strike live in Delhi NCR: Commuters in Delhi-NCR may have to brace for long waits, crowded public transport and possible disruptions over the next three days after commercial vehicle drivers’ associations announced a strike from May 21 to May 23 demanding revision in fares amid rising fuel prices.
The strike has been called by commercial vehicle unions, including “Chalak Shakti Union”, which has written letters to Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor, Chief Minister, Transport Minister and Police Commissioner informing them about the agitation.
In the letter, the union said the strike was being organized “in solidarity with the nationwide agitation declared by the All India Motor Transport Congress”.
The union also argued that despite continuous increase in the prices of CNG, petrol and diesel, taxi and commercial vehicle fares in Delhi-NCR have remained unchanged for almost 15 years.
According to the letter, frequent fuel price hikes have made it difficult for drivers to manage operating costs and maintain earnings.
Cab, auto strike from today: What are the 10 point demands
1. The All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) called for a three-day strike against the recent hike in Environment Compensation Cess (ECC) on commercial vehicles and the proposed ban on old vehicles in Delhi-NCR, while the Chalak Shakti Union supported the agitation and expressed concern that cab and auto fares have not been revised in Delhi-NCR for almost 15 years despite a huge increase in the prices of petrol, diesel and CNG.
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 major triggers is the increase in ECC charges from April 19. Cess on light commercial vehicles and two-axle trucks was increased. ₹from 1,400 ₹2,000, while the charges for three-axle and heavy vehicles were increased ₹from 2,600 ₹4,000.
4. Transporters are also objecting to the government’s decision to increase ECC by 5 percent every year.
5. Another major concern is the CAQM’s proposal to ban the entry of BS-IV and older commercial vehicles into Delhi-NCR from November 1, 2026, as part of pollution-control measures.
6. AIMTC has argued that the restrictions are unfair as they are based only on vehicle registration category and not on actual emissions. “Restrictions should be imposed only on the basis of actual tailpipe emissions,” AIMTC Chairman Rajendra Kapoor said.
7. The transport body has also questioned why ECC is being imposed even on BS-6 vehicles, when such vehicles are allowed under strict pollution-control measures under GRAP guidelines.
8. Transport unions say the cess is being imposed on all goods vehicles entering Delhi, including empty trucks coming for loading and vehicles carrying essential commodities.
9. Cab and auto unions supporting the strike have separately raised concerns over rising prices of petrol, diesel and CNG, saying fares in Delhi-NCR have not been revised for almost 15 years despite rising 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 may launch an indefinite strike if their concerns are not addressed.
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The strike has been called by commercial vehicle unions, including “Chalak Shakti Union”, which has written letters to Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor, Chief Minister, Transport Minister and Police Commissioner informing them about the agitation.
In the letter, the union said the strike was being organized “in solidarity with the nationwide agitation declared by the All India Motor Transport Congress”.
The union also argued that despite continuous increase in the prices of CNG, petrol and diesel, taxi and commercial vehicle fares in Delhi-NCR have remained unchanged for almost 15 years.
According to the letter, frequent fuel price hikes have made it difficult for drivers to manage operating costs and maintain earnings.
Cab, auto strike from today: What are the 10 point demands
1. The All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) called for a three-day strike against the recent hike in Environment Compensation Cess (ECC) on commercial vehicles and the proposed ban on old vehicles in Delhi-NCR, while the Chalak Shakti Union supported the agitation and expressed concern that cab and auto fares have not been revised in Delhi-NCR for almost 15 years despite a huge increase in the prices of petrol, diesel and CNG.
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 major triggers is the increase in ECC charges from April 19. Cess on light commercial vehicles and two-axle trucks was increased. ₹from 1,400 ₹2,000, while the charges for three-axle and heavy vehicles were increased ₹from 2,600 ₹4,000.
4. Transporters are also objecting to the government’s decision to increase ECC by 5 percent every year.
5. Another major concern is the CAQM’s proposal to ban the entry of BS-IV and older commercial vehicles into Delhi-NCR from November 1, 2026, as part of pollution-control measures.
6. AIMTC has argued that the restrictions are unfair as they are based only on vehicle registration category and not on actual emissions. “Restrictions should be imposed only on the basis of actual tailpipe emissions,” AIMTC Chairman Rajendra Kapoor said.
7. The transport body has also questioned why ECC is being imposed even on BS-6 vehicles, when such vehicles are allowed under strict pollution-control measures under GRAP guidelines.
8. Transport unions say the cess is being imposed on all goods vehicles entering Delhi, including empty trucks coming for loading and vehicles carrying essential commodities.
9. Cab and auto unions supporting the strike have separately raised concerns over rising prices of petrol, diesel and CNG, saying fares in Delhi-NCR have not been revised for almost 15 years despite rising 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 may launch an indefinite strike if their concerns are not addressed.
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May 21, 2026 7:10:44 am First
Cab, auto strike LIVE in Delhi NCR: What are the demands?
Cab, auto strike in Delhi NCR LIVE: Transport unions participating in the three-day Delhi-NCR strike are demanding rollback of the recent hike in Environment Compensation Cess (ECC) imposed on commercial vehicles entering Delhi and protesting against the proposed ban on BS-IV and older vehicles entering the capital from November 2026.
The All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) has argued that higher ECC charges will increase operating costs for transporters and impact the supply chain across the sector. The civic body has also objected to the decision to impose levy on all goods vehicles, including empty trucks and vehicles carrying essential commodities.
The second major demand is to withdraw or reconsider 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 supporting the protest have also demanded revision in fares, saying the rates in Delhi-NCR have not been updated for almost 15 years despite repeated hikes in the prices of petrol, diesel and CNG.
Drivers say it is becoming difficult to maintain daily operations due to rising fuel costs, vehicle maintenance expenses, app commissions and loan EMIs.
May 21, 2026 7:02:12 am First
Cab, auto strike in Delhi NCR LIVE: Commuters fear long wait times, higher fares amid strike call
Cab, auto strike in Delhi NCR LIVE: As the threat of a three-day cab and auto strike looms in Delhi-NCR, commuters say they are already feeling the impact of rising fares and longer waiting times.
Priya Mehra, a 29-year-old marketing executive who travels daily from Lajpat Nagar to Nehru Place, said availability of rides had become difficult even before the strike was announced. She says, “A strike is the last thing we want. It makes everything more uncertain. Autos are barely available now because you keep waiting, and if you get one, the fare is already high or they refuse for short distances.”
Priya says that if the strike goes ahead, she will have to rely entirely on the metro for her office commute, “which means at least an extra 45 minutes of travel each way.”
Daily office commuters who rely on app-based cabs also say fares have increased sharply in recent times. Ananya Mehra, an IT professional who travels from Rajouri Garden to Gurugram, says journeys are becoming expensive during peak hours.
“For my office the fare from Rajouri Garden to Gurugram is usually around ₹A few days ago 320-350, but now it is touching ₹“Rs 430-450 during peak hours,” she says. Even short distances have become expensive as fares fluctuate throughout the day.”
– Input from Karan Sethi
May 21, 2026 6:50:10 am First
Cab, auto strike in Delhi NCR live: When is Delhi-NCR transport strike?
Cab, auto strike in Delhi NCR LIVE: Three-day transport strike in Delhi-NCR will begin from May 21 and continue till May 23. The protest has been called by the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), which has the support of several commercial vehicle and driver unions, including the Chalak Shakti Sangh.
More than 68 transport unions from the region are expected to participate. The strike is aimed at protesting against the recent hike in Environment Compensation Cess (ECC) on commercial vehicles, the proposed ban on old 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 First
Cab, auto strike in Delhi NCR live: Fuel prices in Delhi today
Cab, auto strike in Delhi NCR LIVE: Fuel prices remained high in Delhi on Wednesday after the recent hike last week.
Petrol has now become expensive in Delhi ₹Above Rs 98.64 per liter ₹Earlier at Rs 97.77, while diesel is retailing ₹to Rs 91.58 per liter ₹Earlier 90.67. Overall, fuel prices have increased by approximately ₹Rs 4 per liter in the last few days.
CNG prices have also increased. After two hikes within 48 hours on Sunday, CNG price in Delhi now stands at ₹80.09 per kg after a total increase of Rs. ₹3.
The rise in prices of petrol, diesel and CNG has become a major issue for commercial vehicle drivers’ associations, which have called for fare revision and announced a three-day strike from May 21 to 23.
