The strike includes private buses, taxis and autorickshaws, and would affect school children, office-goers and supply of vegetables and milk in the city.

Delhi Transport Minister Rajendra Gupta in an appeal to transporters sought them not to go on strike, invited them for talks and assured that the government would file a petition asking for a reconsideration of the decision. The Supreme Court, in its order on July 28, had ordered phase-out of all commercial vehicles which are more than 15 years old by October 2.

According to the Federation of Transport Unions Congress (FTUC) and National Transport Panchayat (NTP), which are leading the strike, the number of vehicles that will go off the road tomorrow is 1.5 lakh.

This is disputed by Gupta who places the number at a much lower 18,000. ``Most transporters, including taxis and motorcycle-rickshaw operators, have come to me saying they are not taking part in the strike,'' he said. He was confident that the strike call for tomorrow will not succeed. ``Even if some vehicles go off the road, our Delhi Transport Corporation buses will take care of the commuters.'' Police and transport officials have been asked to make sure that private operators wanting to ply their vehicles tomorrow are not hindered in any way.

On the demands of the transporters, he said, ``A number of agencies are offering loans at interests as low as 5 per cent a year, which is lower than even those offered by Delhi Finance Corporation. The transporters should avail them.''

The transporters, however, have painted a grim picture with their three demands.

They want 15-year-old engines to be phased out, not vehicles. Secondly, they want compensation for each vehicle that is phased out: Rs 1 lakh for taxis, Rs 3 lakh for buses and Rs 25,000 for auto-rickshaws per vehicle. Thirdly, they want the government to provide loans at 4 per cent interest, with 25 per cent subsidy on the final amount.

Ramesh Dalal, president of NTP, said: ``Transporters can't get loans because they need I-T certificate, four guarantees and land in Delhi. No auto-driver or taxi-driver can fulfill these conditions.''