CHENNAI: Autorickshaw drivers stood in long queues at LPG filling stations across city amid an apparent shortage of fuel on Wednesday. Many older drivers, those who have run autos for years and continue to rely on LPGpowered vehicles, are the ones most affected.“CNG has always been in demand, but there’s never been shortage of LPG,” said an autorickshaw driver from Virugambakkam, said M Perumal. “But now, drivers who rely on LPG are made to pay double the usual price just to keep vehicles running. If this continues for another day, many of us will simply stop running. We cannot afford these rates.”Some of these privately run outlets that charged nearly double the usual price, refused to issue receipts, according to drivers. At certain retail outlets, operated by dealers of public sector oil companies such as Indian Oil, drivers alleged that employees demanded and pocketed extra money to fill LPG.So, driver unions have urged state govt to intervene. “Many bunks have started exploiting the situation and charging exorbitant rates. A private LPG bunk in Pallavaram charged double on Tuesday and refused to give receipts,” said A Zahir Hussain, president of Tamil Nadu Auto and Call Taxi Drivers Union Federation and general secretary of Urimai Kural Drivers Trade Union. “Police had to be called in and the bunk was shut. If the govt does not step in quickly, similar incidents will happen across the city.”Meanwhile, ride-hailing aggregator companies said they have received calls from concerned drivers and were assessing the situation. Some drivers may switch temporarily to rented electric autos if the problem prolongs.“We are still assessing the situation and identifying LPG stations that remain operational so that drivers can be directed there. So far, we have not seen drivers stopping operations in large numbers, so trip prices have not been affected yet,” said city head of Rapido Yeshvanth.
