Why is Delhi-NCR Facing ‘Chakka Jam’ by Commercial Vehicle Owners?

As Delhi-NCR faces a state-wide strike by commercial vehicle owners, here is what they are demanding.

Photo: Shruti Mathur/The Quint

Video Editor: Varun Sharma

The United Front of Transport Association (UFTA) has called for a pan-Delhi NCR strike or ‘chakka jam’ on Thursday, 19 September. Commercial vehicle owners, headed by the organisation’s president Kultaran Singh Atwal, are protesting the recently amended Motor Vehicle Act 2019.

Under their newly formed united front, all segments of commercial transport have come together – be it auto rickshaw, taxi, maxi cab, mini buses, gramin sewa, state transport buses or trucks.

The areas impacted directly by the strike include Delhi, Meerut, Noida, Faridabad and Panipat.

But this ‘chakka jam’ is not the only protest that the city has witnessed. Another organisation, the Bhaichara India Truck Operator Welfare Association, held a separate protest at Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar. However, the organisation did not resort to calling a strike of its vehicles.

“We tried our best. We did not wish to call a strike, but the government thinks that transporters are weak... they don’t know how big of a force we are.”

Kultaran Singh Atwal, President, UFTA

THEIR DEMANDS

1. Squashing of the new challan rates under the amended Motor Vehicle Act 2019
2. Reduction in the high rate presumptive taxation of commercial vehicles under
Section 44AE
3. Medical aid and post-death compensation for truckers and commercial drivers
4. Under the Motor Vehicle Act 2019, there should be full liability of the third party in the accident claim by the insurance company

While this strike will last only for a day, the unrest among the commercial vehicle owners is sure continue until the challan prices are normalised.

Several states like Maharashtra, West Bengal etc, have already refused to implement the new challan prices. What remains to be seen is whether Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal will give in to the pressure and come to the aid of these commercial car owners.

“Even after this, if the government will not listen to us, then we will surrender our papers to the authority and park our vehicles outside their offices.”

Mohit Narwal, Spokesperson, Bhaichara India Truck operator Welfare Association.