Bengaluru: An acute shortage of auto LPG, coupled with rising prices, is hitting Bengaluru’s autorickshaw drivers hard. Many now spend four to five hours a day queuing for fuel, turning long lines outside auto LPG outlets into a familiar sight across the city.The fuel crunch is also affecting commuters, with waiting times on mobile aggregator apps spiking sharply in recent days, leaving riders frustrated and stranded.On Thursday morning, queues on Sir M Visvesvaraya Road near Vijaya Bank Layout stretched over 1.5km. Krishan, an autorickshaw driver, said: “I waited four hours. The queue started from a park near Ayyappa Swamy Temple. Long waits in queues are becoming routine. We have no option but to endure it. I even skipped breakfast. To earn our livelihood, we have to bear this.”Drivers are also alarmed by the sharp rise in LPG prices. Raju MS, another driver from Hosa Road, said aggregator platforms continue to operate at the same fares despite the fuel crisis. “I’ve earned barely Rs 250 so far, and half the day is gone. Even after standing in long queues, some stations don’t allow full refills. I have to queue all over again,” he added. Several auto LPG stations have put up out-of-stock notices. Ramakanth, an autorickshaw driver, said: “I visited three to four stations, but all displayed ‘No Stock’. Every day has become a frantic search for fuel. I call friends and rely on social media groups to track availability.”Tensions between drivers and station operators have become common, as many outlets have imposed limits on refills, with police deployed at some locations to manage traffic.Syed Aslam Pasha, waiting at a filling station near Koramangala, said: “These autos have been parked here since yesterday evening. Drivers come in shifts to check for gas. They cannot move their vehicles to other stations because there’s no fuel left. Many vehicles are stranded here.”R Dasraj from Koramangala said the fuel crisis has pushed his family into financial distress. “There are eight members in my family. My wife does household work for meagre wages. My last trip was the day before yesterday. Even today, half the day is gone. Under normal conditions, I should have earned at least Rs 500,” he said.In south Bengaluru, limited filling stations and rising prices have worsened the situation, with auto LPG reaching Rs 120 per litre in some areas. “I still have some fuel left, but refilling is expensive. At a station near Kudlu Gate, it was Rs 105 per litre. We are in a really difficult situation,” said Ravi, a driver from Electronics City.Indian Oil ramps up supplyIndian Oil Corporation Limited Thursday said it has ramped up auto LPG supplies across Karnataka amid a demand surge following the closure or partial shutdown of over 300 private outlets. V Vetriselvakkumar, chief general manager (corporate communications), IndianOil, southern regional office, said the PSU is meeting demand through 55 dispensing stations. “Average daily sales have risen to 59.5 metric tonnes from 43.4 MT over the past three months.”
