The All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) has announced plans for a symbolic three-day nationwide 'chakka jam' from May 21 to 23, protesting recent policy decisions that it claims pose a direct threat to the transport sector's viability and the country's supply chain.
Key Demands and Concerns
AIMTC president Harish Sabharwal cited steeply increasing environment compensation charges (ECC), a proposed ban on BS-IV vehicles, and the extension of ECC to BS-VI fleets as major grievances. He warned that continued inaction could force an escalation into a longer shutdown, severely impacting daily life and commerce in the National Capital Region.
Delhi's ECC Hike
The Delhi government has significantly raised ECC on commercial vehicles entering the capital, effective April 2026. Light commercial vehicles now face charges of Rs 2,000 (up from Rs 1,400), while heavy trucks pay up to Rs 4,000 (up from Rs 2,600), with a mandated 5% annual increase.
Potential Disruption
Union leaders emphasized that the protest could disrupt the movement of essential goods, including food, medicines, and industrial supplies, bringing supply chains to a standstill in Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad. Transporters have warned of mass road blockades unless the government addresses rising diesel prices, toll taxes, and environmental levies.
Financial Strain
Gurgaon Transport Welfare Association (GTWA) president Hukum Chand Sharma and general secretary Pradeep Modi highlighted the financial strain from soaring diesel prices and higher toll taxes, eroding profitability. Modi questioned the logic of imposing green taxes on BS-VI vehicles, which already meet stricter emission standards.
Demands
- Rollback of recent increases in toll and environmental levies on commercial carriers.
- Withdrawal of additional green taxes on BS-VI vehicles.
- Reconsideration of the proposed ban on older BS-IV diesel trucks entering Delhi and NCR.
Transporters also criticized the lack of clear supply chain safeguards and the sharp rise in diesel costs, which further squeeze margins. The blockade is set to commence on May 21, with potential escalation into continuous stoppages across major NCR routes if the government fails to engage.
