BENGALURU: The disruption in LPG supply has nearly driven autorickshaws off the road in the city. Commuters are mostly relying on CNG-fitted autorickshaws.
Bowring Service Station on St. Mark’s Road, one of the few LPG bunkers in service on Wednesday, ran out of supply on Thursday. A station-in-charge said that there would not be any supply on Friday as well.
Sajan, who owns and drives an LPG-run autorickshaw, lives in KR Puram. “Someone told me in the morning that a bunker in Bannerghatta had LPG supply.
But it did not make any sense to go to Bannerghatta from KR Puram to fill my vehicle, especially because even if the information was genuine, it was likely that the supply would run out before I reached,” he said, adding that all he and LPG drivers like him could do is wait and follow the news for updates.
‘Many auto drivers hoard LPG despite supply’
Ismail Pasha, owner and driver of an LPG-run autorickshaw, said, “I am helpless. Every now and then we get unconfirmed reports of LPG bunkers with supplies, but we know that there will be long queues there anyway.”
CNG is, however, available. Ahmed Khan, a CNG-run autorickshaw owner and driver, expressed both relief about his situation, and sympathy for his friends who were awaiting LPG supply.
According to M Manjunath, President of Adarsha Auto and Taxi Drivers’ Union, around 80,000 autorickshaws run on LPG, and around 1,00,000 run on CNG. “The situation is being worsened by the fact that a lot of LPG bunkers across the city are in the process of being shut down and converted into CNG bunkers. There are also many drivers who are hoarding LPG despite having adequate supply for their vehicles, causing others to miss out,” Manjunath added.