Auto, Taxi Strike In Delhi: Transport Body Slams Pollution Taxes, Cites Misused Funds

On transporters’ strike in NCR, Dr Harish Sabharwal, National President, All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) says, “We support efforts to reduce pollution, but despite collecting nearly Rs 1,500 crore through the Environmental Compensation Cess over the last 10–12 years, the government has not properly used the funds for transport welfare, parking, roads, or pollution-control measures. We believe increasing taxes alone will not reduce pollution, especially when transport contributes only 12 per cent according to official figures. Euro-6 vehicles were sold to us as pollution-free, yet pollution taxes are still being imposed on them, which is contradictory. The government should not place the entire burden on transporters and must also come forward with practical solutions. We have always stood with the country and supported the government during every crisis.”

VIDEO | Delhi: On transporters’ strike in NCR, Dr Harish Sabharwal, National President, All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) says, “We support efforts to reduce pollution, but despite collecting nearly Rs 1,500 crore through the Environmental Compensation Cess over the last… pic.twitter.com/EXmn1DvaQi

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 21, 2026

Passenger Advisory issued at 13:55 hrs.
For commuting to and from Delhi Airport, please visit: https://t.co/3a0pQA3RUa#DelhiAirport #PassengerAdvisory #DELAdvisory pic.twitter.com/SEJr9f1Ln8

— Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) May 21, 2026

Commuters face difficulties at New Delhi Railway Station amid a three day strike by transport and taxi unions across Delhi NCR over the city government's cess decision. The strike till May 23 is against the Delhi government's decision to hike the environment compensation cess on commercial vehicles.

VIDEO | Commuters face difficulties at New Delhi Railway Station amid a three day strike by transport and taxi unions across Delhi NCR over the city government's cess decision.

The strike till May 23 is against the Delhi government's decision to hike the environment compensation… pic.twitter.com/Dr82bejhKP

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 21, 2026

Delhi: President of the Transport Association, ICD Tughlakabad Bharat Bidhuri says, "As you all know, we have given a three-day strike call through the All India Transport Union. Our demands are very clear, and the government is also aware of them. First, in 2015, the government issued a rule that all vehicles older than 10 years are polluting and should be phased out. We gradually complied and started removing such vehicles...After that, the government adopted a strict approach towards transporters. Last year, they issued another order allowing EURO-4 vehicles to operate in Delhi and Delhi NCR only until 31 October 2026..."

Delhi: President of the Transport Association, ICD Tughlakabad Bharat Bidhuri says, "As you all know, we have given a three-day strike call through the All India Transport Union. Our demands are very clear, and the government is also aware of them. First, in 2015, the government… pic.twitter.com/e33MrdgTpm

— IANS (@ians_india) May 21, 2026

Delhi Airport encourages passengers to use metro or bus transport to the airport in lieu of the three-day cab strike.

Passenger Advisory issued at 12:16 hrs.#DelhiAirport #PassengerAdvisory #DELAdvisory pic.twitter.com/ZCAMN8fYLm

— Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) May 21, 2026

Transport and taxi unions launched a three-day strike across Delhi-NCR on Thursday. Despite the call for action, early hours showed no major disruption to commuting. Unions are pressing for immediate fare revisions and a meeting with the Delhi government on long-term policy measures for commercial drivers.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said the Narendra Modi government is working to make Delhi's transport network modern and future-ready by constructing new expressways, ring roads, tunnels and elevated corridors.

Addressing a press conference after inspecting the six-lane access-controlled highway from DND Maharani Bagh to Junction with Jaitpur Pusta Road Section of NH-148 NA in NCT of Delhi, Gadkari said the government's efforts for improving connectivity will help to cut fuel consumption, reduce pollution and increase economic growth.

The road transport and highways minister said that in the coming days, Delhi-NCR will have a world-class, green, sustainable and seamless mobility network.

Delhi: Visuals from Indira Gandhi International Airport (Delhi) as Taxi and Auto Unions have announced a three-day strike from 21-23 May in Delhi, demanding an immediate hike in their fares amid the rising fuel prices.

#WATCH | Delhi: Visuals from Indira Gandhi International Airport (Delhi) as Taxi and Auto Unions have announced a three-day strike from 21-23 May in Delhi, demanding an immediate hike in their fares amid the rising fuel prices. pic.twitter.com/D2LeutOGAk

— ANI (@ANI) May 21, 2026

Visuals show parked trucks and autorickshaws at Ramlila ground in Delhi during the strike call.

#Watch | Major transporters' bodies announce a three day strike across Delhi NCR from May 21, opposing the Delhi government's decision to increase the environment compensation cess on commercial vehicles.

Visuals show parked trucks and autorickshaws at Ramlila ground in Delhi… pic.twitter.com/HSciXLIkpc

— NDTV (@ndtv) May 21, 2026

Driver associations in Delhi-NCR are pushing for a meeting with the Delhi government to address safeguards against “economic exploitation” of taxi and auto drivers. They’re also calling for regulation of app-based transport services and specific measures to improve working conditions for commercial vehicle operators, alongside their demand for immediate fare revision.

Transporter’ unions announce three-day strike in National Capital Region from May 21; visuals from Mandi House Metro station.

VIDEO | Delhi: Transporter’ unions announce three-day strike in National Capital Region from May 21; visuals from Mandi House Metro station.

(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/ircbJ1qwGu

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 21, 2026

In April, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced a ban on the entry of all interstate BS-IV commercial goods vehicles from November 1 as part of the pollution mitigation plan, while exempting CNG-powered, electric, and BS-VI compliant vehicles.

Opposing this move, the union sought immediate withdrawal, saying, “This decision lacks scientific basis and legal rationale as it ignores the legally permitted operational lifespan of such vehicles.”

The AIMTC has put forward a list of demands, including the withdrawal of the hike in cess imposed on all Delhi-bound goods vehicles, immediate rollback of the proposed ban on entry of non-Delhi registered BS-IV commercial goods vehicles from November 1, 2026, and restricting the cess only to those vehicles passing through Delhi.

The AIMTC, the apex body of truckers, private buses, taxi and maxi cab operators, held a meeting on previously on Tuesday in Delhi where issues related to the cess hike were raised.

"More than 68 transport associations and unions across Delhi NCR have come together under the banner of AIMTC and have decided to suspend their transport operations for three days from May 21 to May 23 in Delhi-NCR against the unjust and unfair policies imposed by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), courts and the Delhi government on the transport sector," a statement said.