Delhi-NCR transporters announce three-day strike

The All India Motor Transport Congress said more than 68 transport associations and unions across Delhi-NCR will suspend operations for three days from May 21 to May 23. The strike call targets a recent increase in the environment compensation cess on commercial vehicles entering Delhi and a proposed ban on non-Delhi registered BS-IV commercial goods vehicles from November 1, 2026. Transport bodies said the action could disrupt freight movement and supply chains across the capital region. They also said essential-goods vehicles would remain exempt from the blockade. The protest brings together truckers, goods carriers and other commercial vehicle operators under the AIMTC banner. The group has framed the stoppage as a response to what it called “unjust and unfair policies” imposed by the Commission for Air Quality Management, the courts and the Delhi government on the transport sector. Delhi government officials had not publicly responded in the reports reviewed before the strike was due to begin. Union minister Nitin Gadkari said he was hopeful the issue could be resolved after discussions with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. ### Which transport groups have called the strike, and for how long? AIMTC announced the action after a May 19 meeting in Delhi. The body, described in multiple reports as an apex association for truckers, private buses, taxi and maxi-cab operators, said the stoppage would run for three days, from Thursday, May 21, through Saturday, May 23. Rajender Kapoor of the All India Motor and Goods Transport Association and Harish Sabharwal of AIMTC were both cited in reports backing the protest. The associations said commercial vehicles entering Delhi would be halted as part of the action, though they added that vehicles carrying essential goods would be allowed to move. ### What changed in Delhi’s entry charges for commercial vehicles? The Municipal Corporation of Delhi last month raised the environment compensation cess after a Supreme Court-linked process tied to pollution control, according to Indian Express and other reports. The revised charges took effect on April 19. Light commercial vehicles and two-axle trucks now pay Rs 2,000 per trip, up from Rs 1,400, according to reports citing the order. For larger trucks, the cess rose from Rs 2,600 to Rs 4,000, with an additional Rs 1,200 MCD tax taking the total to Rs 5,200 per trip in some cases. Reports also said the cess will rise by 5% annually from April 1. Harish Sabharwal told Indian Express the increase worked out to roughly 15% to 55% on average, depending on vehicle category. Rajender Kapoor told Hindustan Times the levy had originally been intended for vehicles transiting through Delhi without a destination in the city, and said transporters objected to its wider application to all commercial vehicles. ### Why are BS-IV vehicles part of the dispute? The Delhi government in April announced that interstate BS-IV commercial goods vehicles would be barred from entering the capital from November 1, 2026, as part of its pollution mitigation plan. Reports said CNG-powered, electric and BS-VI compliant vehicles would be exempt. Transport unions said that restriction would hit operators whose vehicles remain legal in other parts of India. AIMTC has demanded an immediate rollback of the proposed ban and argued that the cess should apply only to vehicles using Delhi as a transit corridor rather than to all Delhi-bound goods vehicles. ### How broad could the disruption be? Hindustan Times reported that transport bodies warned of possible disruption to freight movement and supply chains. The associations said road transport carries nearly 73% of freight in India, and argued that higher fuel prices and higher entry charges would raise the cost of moving vegetables, medicines, construction material and daily-use goods. The Indian Express reported concerns that deliveries into Delhi-NCR could be affected if the strike holds across the full three days. Transport leaders have also described the stoppage as symbolic for now, while warning it could be extended if their demands are not addressed. ### What happens next, and who is involved in talks? Nitin Gadkari said he was hopeful the matter could be resolved after discussions with Rekha Gupta, according to HT Syndication. Transport bodies said they had written to Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to press their demands before the strike window opened. November 1, 2026, remains the next major policy date in the dispute because that is when the proposed BS-IV entry ban is due to take effect. Before then, the immediate test is whether talks involving AIMTC, Delhi authorities and central government participants can prevent or shorten the May 21-23 stoppage.