NEW DELHI: A three-day transport strike called by over 68 transport unions under the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) severely disrupted transportation and supply chains across Delhi-NCR as it entered its second day on Friday.
The protest, involving trucks, taxis, autos, and other commercial vehicles, was launched against the Delhi government’s hike in the Environmental Compensation (Green) Cess and the growing operational burden caused by the rising fuel prices.
The strike affected the movement of goods and commuters across the capital, with disruptions visible at major transport hubs and wholesale markets. Among the worst-hit areas was Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar. Normally, around 4,000 to 5,000 trucks operate daily from this area, but during the strike, several loaded trucks remained parked along roads as drivers waited for transport operations to resume.
The impact also extended to Azadpur Mandi, Asia’s largest fruit and vegetable wholesale market. Traders reported delays in the arrival of essential goods due to the blockade. According to vendors, the supply has been disrupted heavily.
“Trucks are unable to reach the mandi because of the strike. Even the supply of available stock is getting affected since smaller goods vehicles are not operating normally. This is the reason some vegetable prices are overpriced,” one of the vendors said. Meanwhile, a distributor affected by the strike said the disruption has created serious challenges in maintaining supply timelines and fulfilling customer commitments.
“The ongoing transport strike has created major disruptions in our day-to-day operations. Deliveries are getting delayed, dispatch schedules have been affected, and several orders are pending. This is impacting business operations and causing financial strain,” the distributor said.
Daily commuters also faced inconvenience due to reduced availability of autos and taxis. Rohan, a commuter, said he struggled to find transport during office hours and reached work late because of the strike. Reduced cab availability was also reported at Indira Gandhi International Airport, adding to passenger difficulties across the national capital. Yesterday, many commuters reported longer wait times, reduced availability of autos and cabs booked via app-based aggregators, and inconsistent fares.
Transport unions in Delhi-NCR said taxi fares have remained unchanged for nearly 15 years even as drivers continue to grapple with rising expenses of everyday life. They pointed out that the sharp increase in prices of CNG, petrol and diesel, along with growing costs of vehicle maintenance, insurance, permits and fitness certificates, has made it difficult for many drivers to make ends meet.
The unions said the added burden of the ECC has only deepened their financial troubles. Demanding a rollback of the ECC and a revision of taxi fares, they warned that if the issue is not addressed soon, the livelihoods of thousands of taxi drivers and their families across the region could come under serious strain.
