Three Day Transport Strike Begins in Delhi-NCR Against ECC Hike, Rising CNG Prices
A three-day transport strike began across Delhi-NCR on Thursday as transport unions protested against the Delhi government’s hike in Environment Compensation Charge (ECC), rising CNG prices, and restrictions on older commercial vehicles. Essential goods transport remains exempt as unions demand rollback of the new policies.
Join the RuralVoice whatsapp group
A three-day transport strike called by the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) began across Delhi-NCR on Thursday, disrupting commercial transport services in the national capital and adjoining regions.
The strike, which will continue till May 23, has been launched in protest against the Delhi government’s recent hike in the Environment Compensation Charge (ECC) on commercial vehicles, rising CNG prices, and new restrictions proposed by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).
The agitation has received support from the All India Motor and Goods Transport Association and at least 68 transport and workers’ unions from Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad. The unions announced that trucks, private buses, taxis, and maxi cabs will remain off the roads during the three-day protest. However, vehicles carrying essential commodities have been exempted to avoid disruption in the supply of critical goods.
Transport unions termed the policies of the Delhi government and the CAQM as “unjust and unfair,” alleging that the increasing financial burden on commercial vehicle operators is threatening their livelihood.
The unions have raised four major demands, including complete withdrawal of the ECC hike on Delhi-bound commercial vehicles and rollback of the proposed ban on entry of non-Delhi registered BS-IV commercial goods vehicles from November 1, 2026.
They have also demanded that ECC should apply only to transit vehicles using Delhi as a corridor, in line with the original Supreme Court directive, and sought exemption for BS-VI vehicles carrying essential goods and empty vehicles from the levy.
Last month, the Delhi government increased ECC rates by more than 50 percent. Charges for light commercial vehicles and two-axle trucks were raised from Rs 1,400 to Rs 2,000, while fees for three-axle and heavier trucks increased from Rs 2,600 to Rs 4,000. The government has also proposed a 5 percent annual increase in the cess.
The AIMTC claimed that while the government had collected Rs 1,753.2 crore as ECC till December 2025, only Rs 781.4 crore had been utilised, leaving more than 55 percent of the funds unspent.
