Transport unions across Delhi-NCR have announced a three-day strike from May 21 to May 23 to protest against the Delhi Government’s decision to increase
the environment compensation cess on commercial vehicles. The strike has been called by the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), which represents truckers, private bus operators, taxi drivers and maxi cab unions. According to AIMTC, more than 68 transport associations and unions from across Delhi-NCR have decided to suspend transport operations during the protest period. The unions are opposing what they called “unjust and unfair policies” imposed by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), courts and the Delhi government on the transport sector. The main reason behind the strike is the recent hike in environment compensation cess on commercial vehicles entering Delhi. Transport unions alleged that the cess hike has been imposed on all Delhi-bound goods vehicles instead of targeting only transit vehicles passing through the national capital. In a statement, AIMTC said, “The CAQM and the Delhi Government have indiscriminately imposed the cess hike on all Delhi-bound goods vehicles, rather than deterring transit vehicles using Delhi as a corridor in line with the original intent of the Supreme Court order and to divert them to the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways.” The unions have also opposed the proposed ban on entry of non-Delhi registered BS-IV commercial goods vehicles from November 1, 2026. Among their key demands are withdrawal of the cess hike, rollback of the proposed BS-IV vehicle entry ban and limiting the cess only to vehicles using Delhi as a transit route. The transport body warned that the strike could affect movement of goods vehicles, taxis, buses and other commercial transport services across Delhi-NCR during the three-day protest.
