Delhi NCR Taxi, Auto Rickshaw Drivers Begin 3-Day Strike May 21

Commercial vehicle drivers in Delhi and the National Capital Region will stage a three-day strike beginning May 21, demanding an immediate revision of taxi and auto-rickshaw fares. The action, organized by unions including the Chalak Shakti Union, is in support of a nationwide protest called by the All India Motor Transport Congress.

The unions state that fares in the region have not been revised for approximately 15 years, a period during which operational costs have risen sharply. They cite steep increases in the prices of CNG, petrol, and diesel, alongside higher costs for vehicle maintenance, insurance, permits, and daily essentials. A recent fuel price hike, which saw petrol and diesel rates increase by an average of 90 paise per litre in Delhi, has intensified the pressure.

Anuj Kumar Rathore, vice-president of the Chalak Shakti Union, said that due to continuously increasing fuel prices, middle-class drivers are struggling to support their families. The union has called for a "Chakka Jam," appealing to drivers not to operate their vehicles from May 21 to 23.

A core grievance outlined in letters to Delhi's Lieutenant Governor, Chief Minister, and other officials is the...