Striking Delhi drivers cause travel chaos

The strike put a strain on the city's buses

By Jill McGivering in Delhi

A strike by tens of thousands of autorickshaw and taxi drivers in the Indian capital, Delhi, has caused travel chaos for the city's commuters.

Office workers had to find alternative means of transport as the striking drivers protested against new anti-pollution measures which, they say, are threatening their livelihoods.

Some taxi drivers say they have gone into debt buying new vehicles to comply with the ruling

Most of the city's buses were running and some travellers said bus journeys had been far more crowded because of the strike.

In some parts of Delhi, however, there was markedly less traffic than usual during the Friday night rush-hour after other people, who could not get to work because of the strike, simply stayed at home

The taxi and autorickshaw drivers are angry about a recent anti-pollution measure which is forcing them to stop using diesel and change to compressed natural gas, or CNG.

Some taxi drivers say they have gone into debt buying new vehicles to comply with the ruling and they are now facing more problems.

Many workers walked to work

They say they have to queue every day for between two and five hours at filling stations because there are not enough pumps to cater for the demand.

In recent months, it has become common to see long queues of dozens of vehicles waiting to refuel.

Many blame the government for failing to provide the necessary infrastructure.

Despite the disruption, many commuters seem sympathetic to the drivers, saying the move to CNG has not worked.

Air pollution in Delhi has become acute in recent years, raising growing concerns about the impact on public health.

Fumes from diesel vehicles are seen as a major factor.