Fuel, CNG price hike: Auto, cab drivers in Delhi to go on two-day strike from today
Premium- Delhi auto,cab strike: The auto fares were last revised in 2019 while taxi fares were revised in 2013.
Auto, taxi and cab drivers' associations in Delhi have called for a two-day strike from today to protest against the rising fuel and CNG prices. Delhiites may face difficulties during these two days for commuting across the national capital after several unions of auto and cab drivers are demanding that the fare rates be hiked and fuel prices be reduced. There are over 90,000 autos and more than 80,000 registered taxis complementing the public transport system in the city.
While most unions said they will be on one-day strike, the Sarvodaya Driver Association Delhi, which has members who drive for cab aggregators, said it will go an "indefinite" strike from Monday.
CNG prices have risen by 60 per cent or over ₹28 per kg in one year and PNG by over a third. The auto fares were last revised in 2019 while taxi fares were revised in 2013. The Delhi government in June 2019 had notified new auto-rickshaw fares, effecting more than 18 per cent increase over prevailing rates and raising per Km charge from ₹8 to ₹9.5.
CNG in the national capital territory of Delhi now costs ₹71.61 per kg, up from ₹69.11 per kg, according to the information posted on the website of Indraprastha Gas Ltd (IGL) -- the firm which retails CNG and piped cooking gas in the national capital and adjoining cities.
In all, the CNG price has risen by ₹15.6 per kg in less than six weeks. This includes a ₹7.50 per kg hike in this month alone.
In the last one year, prices have increased by ₹28.21 per kg or 60 per cent
General secretary of STA Operators Ekta Manch, Shyamlal Gola, said that RTV buses, numbering around 10,000, will also be off road in support of the demands to revise fares and bring down CNG prices.
General Secretary of Delhi Auto Rickshaw Sangh, Rajendra Soni in a telephonic conversation with ANI alleged that the Central and the Delhi government is not paying heed to their demands.
Listing demands of the auto and cab unions, Soni said, "We do not want the fare to increase, because it will affect the pockets of the common people as well. Our only demand is that the government does not increase the fuel price and give us subsidy on CNG prices. We demand that the government provide ₹35 per kg subsidy on CNG prices
President of the Sarvodaya Drivers' Association of Delhi, Kamaljeet Gill said that Ola and Uber cab drivers will go on a strike on from April 18. "Ola and Uber fares have not been increased since 2015 and we have protested against this many times but the government did not pay heed. In these seven years, the prices of CNG and petrol started soaring high," he said.