A three-day cab and auto strike is starting today in the Delhi-NCR region as commercial vehicle drivers' unions have announced a strike from May 21 to May 23 (from Thursday to Saturday). The cab unions have demanded an immediate hike in taxi and auto fares amid the rising fuel prices and alleged exploitation by app-based cab aggregators. More than 68 transport unions under the banner of the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) and the United Front of All Transport Associations (UFTA) are expected to participate in the "chakka jam" protest. Apart from this, chemists' associations have also called for a nationwide bandh against online pharmacies. Commuters and medicine buyers across India could face disruptions this week due to the cab and auto strike. These services are likely to be affected:
Auto-rickshaw services
Availability of app-based cab services such as Uber and Ola
Commercial taxi operations across Delhi-NCR
Peak-hour local transport connectivity
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Expect ride cancellations, surge in prices
The three-day strike is likely to hit traditional taxis and some app-based cab drivers. Since there would be fewer cabs on the road, the surge pricing is likely on Ola, Uber, and Rapido and might lead to longer wait times, ride cancellations, surge in prices, especially during peak hours and at airports and railway stations. However, essential public transport services, including the Delhi Metro and DTC bus service, will be available and bike taxis are also likely to remain available. The riders are advised to book in advance or keep buffer time if travelling May 21-23.
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Why the strike?
The “Chalak Shakti Union”, has written a letter to the Delhi Lieutenant Governor, Chief Minister, Transport Minister, and Police Commissioner, and said that the strike is in support of a nationwide stir announced by the All India Motor Transport Congress. According to the letter, the taxi fares in Delhi-NCR have remained the same for nearly 15 years despite a sharp rise in fuel prices, including CNG, petrol, and diesel. The increased costs of maintenance, insurance, fitness certificates, permits, and other daily essentials are added to it.
“Taxi fares are still being charged at old rates despite rising inflation, which has severely affected the livelihood of drivers,” the letter said. “App-based companies like Ola, Uber and Rapido are operating arbitrarily, and drivers in Delhi-NCR are becoming victims of serious economic exploitation,” the union alleged. “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 Delhi government does not revise taxi fares within the next one or two weeks, the ongoing agitation could intensify into a larger protest movement. They have also announced a protest outside the Delhi Secretariat on May 23.
Drivers accused app-based cab companies such as Ola, Uber, and Rapido of operating arbitrarily and pushing drivers into what they described as “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 taxi fares should be increased,” the letter said.
Hike in fuel prices adds pressure
The strike announcement comes at a time when fuel prices are rising once again across the country. On Tuesday, petrol and diesel rates were hiked by nearly 90 paise per litre, marking the second increase in less than a week.
In Delhi, petrol prices went up from Rs 97.77 to Rs 98.64 per litre, while diesel prices increased from Rs 90.67 to Rs 91.58 per litre. Earlier, oil marketing companies had already raised fuel prices by around Rs 3 per litre amid disruptions in global energy supplies triggered by the Strait of Hormuz crisis.
