Commuters in Delhi may face difficulties as auto, taxi, petrol, CNG stations on strike today

Hit by twin strikes, commuters in Delhi may face difficulties while commuting today as petrol pumps, auto rickshaw and taxis will remain on strike today. While petrol pumps in the capital are on strike till tomorrow morning in protest against Delhi government's refusal to reduce Value Added Tax (VAT) on diesel and petrol, auto and taxis unions are also on one-day strike to protest against the Delhi government's policies on cab aggregators like Uber and Ola, and the Centre’s rule on speed governors.

According to petrol pump dealers, the customers are deserting petrol pumps in Delhi due to higher prices in the capital and low prices in neighbouring states of UP, Haryana and Rajasthan. This has led to huge drop in their sales.



The Center had announced cut in excise duty Rs 2.50 at the start of this month and had asked to reduce the same amount in VAT. The BJP-ruled states, including UP, Haryana & Rajasthan have reduced the VAT, but Delhi decided not to reduce the tax.

"In comparison to Delhi, petrol in UP and Haryana is cheaper by Rs 2.59 and Rs 1.95 per litre, respectively, while diesel in these two states is cheaper by Rs 2.02 and Rs 1.72 per litre, respectively," DPDA President Singhania had told reporters earlier in the week.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged that the strike was politically motivated and sponsored by the BJP. “Petrol pump owners have told us privately that this is a BJP sponsored strike, actively supported by oil cos. In fact, BJP has thrust it upon petrol pump owners. People will give BJP a befitting reply in elections for continuously inconveniencing people through their dirty politics,” Kejriwal tweeted yesterday.

Auto, taxi unions are also unhappy with the Kejriwal-led Delhi government. While announcing the one-day strike last week, Inderjeet Singh, chairman of the All India Tour and Transport Association, had said that the one-day 'Chakka Jaam' protest by the Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti will be held as the government failed to listen to their grievances. "Auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers are losing their employment due to wrong transport polices of the government and also due to low fares offered to commuters by cab aggregators," he said.

Delhi has nearly 1 lakh auto-rickshaws and around 1.5 lakh taxis.

Customers of cab aggregators like Uber and Ola may also witness long waiting and surge pricing due to shortage of cabs and high demand.