A three-day symbolic chakka jam, or strike, is set to commence in the Delhi-NCR region from May 21 to May 23, 2026, as over 60 transport associations unite under the banner of the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC). This large-scale protest threatens to significantly disrupt the supply of crucial commodities, including vegetables, fruits, milk, medicines, and industrial goods across the national capital region.
Why Transporters Are Striking
The AIMTC has called for the suspension of services to protest what it describes as escalating operational restrictions and financial burdens imposed on commercial vehicles. Harish Sabharwal, President of AIMTC, emphasized that this agitation is vital not just for the survival of transporters but also for safeguarding the nation’s economic lifeline.
Key Grievances Include:
- Increased Green Tax: A significant hike in the environment compensation cess (green tax) on commercial vehicles entering Delhi.
- BS-IV Vehicle Restrictions: Proposed restrictions, effective November 1, 2026, on the entry of non-Delhi registered BS-IV commercial goods vehicles into the capital. Transporters argue this decision lacks scientific basis and disregards the legally permitted operational lifespan of these vehicles.
- Burden on Essential Carriers: The imposition of cess on vehicles carrying essential commodities and those returning empty, which transporters believe should be exempt in public interest.
Potential Impact on Supply Chains
The widespread participation of transporters and truck operators in Delhi-NCR could lead to severe supply chain disruptions. Senior representatives of the transport fraternity have warned that without immediate practical corrective measures, traders, manufacturers, small businesses, retail markets, and common citizens could face significant challenges.
Demands from the AIMTC
Following a meeting in Delhi, the AIMTC and its supporting unions outlined their demands, urging policymakers to initiate immediate dialogue to prevent further escalation into a nationwide logistics crisis. Their key demands include:
- Immediate withdrawal of the cess hike on all Delhi-bound goods vehicles.
- Rollback of the proposed ban on non-Delhi registered BS-IV commercial goods vehicles.
- Limiting the environment compensation cess only to transit vehicles passing through Delhi, aligning with the original intent of Supreme Court orders to divert traffic to peripheral expressways.
- Exemption from cess for vehicles carrying essential commodities and empty vehicles entering Delhi for loading, a provision previously allowed in the public interest.
The transport sector, often dubbed the backbone of the nation’s economy, moves vital goods daily across highways, cities, and industrial corridors. The impending strike highlights serious socioeconomic consequences for the sector and the livelihoods of its operators.