New Delhi:
The 72-hour strike was called by several transport bodies, including the All India Motor Transport Congress and the Chalak Shakti Union. These organisations represent truck operators, private bus owners, cab drivers and maxi-cab drivers across the region.
However, the daily commute remained largely unaffected in most parts of the capital. At New Delhi Railway Station, auto-rickshaws and cabs were seen operating as usual on Friday, with only minimal disruption reported.
Cab drivers said fares in Delhi-NCR had not been revised in nearly a decade, even as fuel, CNG, vehicle maintenance and household expenses had risen sharply. They said the growing financial burden was putting severe pressure on their earnings and livelihoods.
The drivers have demanded the withdrawal of the CNG and fuel surcharge, an upward revision of taxi fares and a formal meeting with the government to discuss policy measures for protecting commercial drivers and regulating app-based transport services.
The protest is scheduled to continue till Saturday, May 23, with further action depending on the government’s response. Earlier, AIMTC had warned that the agitation could intensify if the Delhi government failed to address their demands.