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NEW DELHI: Commercial vehicle drivers’ unions in Delhi-NCR have announced a three-day strike from May 21 to 23 (from Thursday to Saturday), demanding an immediate hike in taxi and auto fares amid rising fuel prices and alleged exploitation by app-based cab aggregators.As per news agency ANI, the “Chalak Shakti Union” submitted a letter to the Delhi lieutenant governor, chief minister, transport minister and police commissioner, extending support to a nationwide protest call given by the All India Motor Transport Congress.The unions said taxi fares in Delhi-NCR have not been revised for nearly 15 years despite sharp increases in the prices of CNG, petrol and diesel, along with higher maintenance, insurance, permit and fitness certificate costs.“Taxi fares are still being charged at old rates despite rising inflation, which has severely affected the livelihood of drivers,” the union said in its letter.
Protest warning over fare revision delay
The unions warned that if the Delhi government failed to revise fares within one or two weeks, the agitation could escalate into a larger protest movement.“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 also announced that a protest would be held at the Delhi Secretariat on May 23.Drivers alleged that app-based companies such as Ola, Uber and Rapido were functioning arbitrarily and pushing drivers into “economic exploitation and slavery-like conditions”.“The union had to approach the Delhi High Court last year, which clearly directed that the problems of taxi drivers should be resolved and the taxi fare should be increased,” the letter stated.
Fuel price hikes add pressure
The strike announcement comes amid a fresh rise in fuel prices across the country.On Tuesday, petrol and diesel prices were increased again by around 90 paise per litre, marking the second hike in less than a week. In Delhi, petrol prices climbed from Rs 97.77 to Rs 98.64 per litre, while diesel rose from Rs 90.67 to Rs 91.58 per litre.Earlier, oil marketing companies had raised petrol and diesel prices by around Rs 3 per litre following disruptions in global energy supplies linked to the Strait of Hormuz crisis.
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Gig workers also raise concerns
The fare revision demand comes days after gig and platform workers across India called for a temporary shutdown of app-based services to protest rising fuel costs and low payment rates.Drivers and delivery workers have argued that while fuel expenses continue to rise sharply, app-based fares and payouts have not increased proportionately.“Every time fuel prices increase, our expenses go up immediately, but customer fares do not increase accordingly,” a cab driver said.Crude oil costs have surged significantly in recent months due to the West Asia conflict, while state-run fuel retailers are reportedly still facing under-recoveries on petrol and diesel sales.
