Kalyan/Thane/Navi Mumbai: Amid panic buying at petrol pumps across MMR, especially in Thane and Navi Mumbai, sources in oil companies said on Thursday there is no fuel supply shortage. Govt sources said a few pumps are facing an issue due to the recent shift to an advance payment system. Kishore Vichare, who runs fuel stations in Koparkhairane and Mahape said, “Dealers have stopped giving credit and only after payment a day in advance is the fuel stock delivered. Fuel stations unable to make advance payment are nearly running dry.” On Thursday, there was panic buying of fuel at some pumps in Kalyan, Badlapur, parts of Thane, Koparkhairne, Vashi and Belapur in Navi Mumbai and parts of Mumbai. In Thane, two of the 18 fuel stations saw a near shutdown as motorists thronged to get their tanks full anticipating shortage. In Badlapur, a private Nayara petrol pump was found shut on Thursday, with staff citing “fuel shortage”. Another Nayara petrol pump in Kalyan was found closed too. Ganesh Lamture, who operates a Nayara franchise, said supply is coming, but on alternate days. (Inputs by Pradeep Gupta, Manoj Badgeri, George Mendonca & Somit Sen)
