As concerns loomed over fuel shortages amid nationwide transporters’ strikes, petrol dealers in Pune have reassured citizens that the fuel supply is now back to normal. Ali Daruwala, the spokesperson for the All India Petrol Dealers’ Association (AIPDA), affirmed that tankers are being transported under police protection to ensure an undisrupted supply of fuel in the city.
Over the past two days, there were rumors of fuel shortages, leading to citizens rushing to petrol stations for refills. Moderate queues were observed at several fuel stations during this period.
According to Ali Daruwala, the nationwide transport strike, which began on Monday, temporarily halted the transportation of fuel from depots to fuel stations in Pune. He explained that as December 31 was a Sunday, fuel supply was closed, and the strike on January 1 further disrupted the supply chain. However, Daruwala assured the public that the fuel supply has now resumed, and residents can expect no further disruptions.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has provided assurance to the Petrol Dealers’ Association that the transportation of fuel, being an essential commodity, will be under police protection, starting from Tuesday. All tankers are reported to be reaching the pumps on time in Pune and Mumbai.
Despite the strike affecting transporters, not fuel stations, social media rumors triggered panic among the public on Monday. Long queues and increased fuel sales were observed in the city due to the widespread panic.
A manager at a petrol pump in the Deccan area mentioned that on average, their fuel sales are around 20,000 liters. However, due to the panic, sales increased by an additional 5,000 liters on Monday. Another petrol pump owner in Shivajinagar reported a surge in petrol sales during the second half of the day, reaching 12,000 liters compared to their average of 8,000 liters.
Petrol dealers maintain a two-day stock, ensuring that the strike had minimal impact, as tankers arrived promptly from the Loni depot. The situation is expected to stabilize further by Tuesday evening.
