Truckers, drivers hit by demonetisation: ‘Even bribes are up… they take Rs 500, don’t give us change’

Transporters also lamented how their business had been hit in general because of the high green tax introduced by the government for loaded trucks entering and empty ones leaving the city. “Demonetisation will be the last nail in the coffin,” said Dharmender Singh Chauhan, a transporter who owns 20 goods vehicles.

Nanhe Singh, a driver, held up a silver hologrammed piece of paper with faces embossed on it and a number printed in red. “This is Rs 100. The MCD toll centres are issuing these as change for the Rs 1,500 we pay as green tax for entry into Delhi,” he said.

He said that while drivers have been accepting these coupons, they are not sure if these will be accepted by toll centres when they return. “I am planning to collect more such tokens to pay back at the toll centre,” said Singh. But South Municipal Corporation spokesperson Mukesh Yadav said, “I do not have any intimation of such practices.” In a meeting with around 200 transporters, the Delhi government said it will move the court seeking exemption of “green tax” levied on trucks till December 31.