Delhi Taxi-Auto Strike: 3-day 'Chakka Jam' Backed By Over 60 Unions Begins Today

Commercial vehicle unions in Delhi have began a three-day strike from May 21 to 23, seeking higher taxi and auto rickshaw fares as fuel costs rise, even as several other transport bodies say they will keep services running, creating a mixed response across the Delhi-NCR region.

More than 68 transport unions under the All India Motor Transport Congress and the United Front of All Transport Associations plan a “chakka jam” protest. These groups say drivers can no longer manage household expenses because CNG, petrol and diesel prices have gone up sharply over many years.

Speaking to ANI, a taxi driver Narendra Tiwari said, "The condition is very bad as the prices have decreased. Rapido was paying ₹30 per km from 18 to 25 April, which has now been reduced to ₹15-16... We are protesting from 21-23, so let's see what will happen..."

Another taxi driver Dinesh Kumar added, "There is no price in the market... We do not even get many rides... I would appeal to the government to pay some attention to the taxi fares as well..."

Delhi commercial vehicle strike and fare hike demand

The All India Motor Transport Congress has written to Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. The letter lists demands linked to rising operational costs. It also refers to previous legal directions on fare revision, which unions say the Delhi government has not acted upon in a timely manner.

#WATCH | Delhi | Taxi driver Narendra Tiwari says, “The condition is very bad as the prices have decreased. Rapido was paying ₹30 per km from 18 to 25 April, which has now been reduced to ₹15-16… We are protesting from 21-23, so let’s see what will happen…” pic.twitter.com/K5xiFv4WIR

— ANI (@ANI) May 21, 2026

"Due to the continuously increasing prices of CNG, petrol and diesel, middle-class drivers are struggling to support their families. Therefore, in coordination with other organisations of Delhi, the 'Chaalak Shakti Union' has called for a Chakka Jam (strike) and appealed not to operate vehicles on May 21, 22 and 23," PTI quoted Anuj Kumar Rathore, vice-president of the Chaalak Shakti Union, as saying.

The letter from drivers’ unions recalls that they had moved the Delhi High Court last year. According to the unions, the court “clearly directed that the problems of taxi drivers should be resolved and the taxi fare should be increased”, yet they allege the government continues to delay a decision.

Delhi commercial vehicle strike over fuel costs and app cabs

Drivers of commercial vehicles want “strong policies be formulated to stop the economic exploitation of taxi drivers”. They argue that current earnings do not match the surge in fuel and maintenance expenses, and that without a revised fare structure many drivers are being pushed into debt.

The unions also criticise app-based cab platforms. They allege these companies are raising passenger charges while “acting arbitrarily”, and claim many traditional taxi drivers in Delhi are “becoming victims of economic exploitation and slavery-like conditions.” They say there has been no fare hike for city taxis in Delhi-NCR for 15 years despite repeated representations.

The same letter states, “Fares for city taxis have not been hiked in the Delhi-NCR region for the last 15 years. Meanwhile, the cost of CNG, petrol, diesel, et cetera, has increased manifold," adding that this gap has widened every year. Last week, the Delhi Auto Rickshaw Union and the Delhi Pradesh Taxi Union raised similar concerns in a letter to the chief minister.

Delhi commercial vehicle strike call and unions opposing it

Unions supporting the agitation say vehicles should stay off the roads on all three days and that a protest will also take place at the Delhi Secretariat on May 23. They warn that if the government does not act quickly, the current agitation could expand into a larger movement across the sector.

"If the government does not immediately increase taxi fares and issue a notification within one or two weeks, this movement will be intensified into a large-scale protest, for which the Delhi government solely would be responsible," the union added. The All India Motor Transport Congress has also linked its strike call to the recent hike in environment compensation cess on commercial vehicles.

However, some auto rickshaw and taxi groups have publicly stepped away from the three-day Delhi-NCR strike from May 21. The Delhi Auto Rickshaw Sangh says auto rickshaw services will operate normally, arguing that the strike is mainly an issue for transporters rather than everyday auto drivers.

Union representatives say five organisations, including Delhi Pradesh Taxi Union, Auto Drivers Welfare Sangh Delhi, Pragatisheel Autorickshaw Drivers Union and National Capital Region Auto Taxi Transport Union, have distanced themselves from both the strike and road blockades. The Delhi Taxi and Tourist Transport Association has also chosen not to participate and has cited wider national concerns.

"The association believes that the country is currently facing serious challenges due to rising international oil and gas prices. At such a time, it is important to cooperate in the national interest rather than inconvenience the general public," Sanjay Samrat, president, Delhi Taxi and Tourist Transport Association, said. With major unions divided, commuters in Delhi-NCR may see partial disruption, while the core dispute over fares, fuel costs and policy remains unresolved.

With inputs from agencies