Kolkata: A tightening supply of auto-LPG and panic buying of the fuel, also called auto-gas, began to disrupt auto services across Kolkata and its outskirts, forcing vehicles to queue for hours at fuel pumps and reducing the number of autos on several routes by nearly 30%, operators said.The shortage widened the gap between demand and supply for one of the city’s most widely used modes of transport, leaving passengers waiting longer at stands during peak hours. Several drivers said fuel pumps were running out of auto-LPG much faster because of the twin pressures of restricted supply and panic-buying. Ashok Chakraborty, a leader of the Trinamool-led auto union in south Kolkata, said: “Since gas for autos is not available at all pumps, demand is created in some areas, leading to long queues.”Many autos in the city still rely on ‘kaata gas’ (siphoned domestic LPG), which is diverted illegally from household cylinders and used as vehicle fuel. With domestic LPG supplies tightening and prices rising, the availability of such fuel also shrank. “Kaata gas price has doubled in the last two days,” said an auto operator.“Gas pumps are running dry quickly and the queues are getting longer. If we spend hours waiting for fuel, how will we earn?” said Shankar Mondal, an auto driver on the Garia-Gariahat route. Drivers say the rising cost of LPG had begun to affect their earnings. “As the price of LPG went up, the cost of running autos increased,” said a union representative for a suburban route, adding many unions were considering proposals to revise fares.However, a fare revision in the city appears uncertain for now. Most auto unions in Kolkata and the suburbs operate under INTTUC, the labour wing of Trinamool, and with the state assembly elections approaching, operators say a decision on fare hikes could be politically sensitive.While fares remain unchanged in Kolkata city limits, passengers on some suburban routes already reported higher charges. Drivers say the economics of running autos became increasingly difficult even without a fuel price hike. Bireswar Sahu, an auto driver on the busy Ranikuthi-Jadavpur route, said he ended his shift early after earning barely enough to cover expenses. “By 5 pm, I drove about 61 km but collected only Rs 368 in fares,” he said. Auto drivers typically pay the vehicle owner ranging from Rs 350 to Rs 480 per day as rental, depending on the route. In some cases, owners pay for fuel; in others, drivers have to purchase gas themselves before settling the owner’s share. Operators say they must run at least 100 km a day and collect around Rs 2,000 in fares to make a reasonable profit.“At the end of the day, if business is decent, we take home around Rs 500 to Rs 650,” said Shubhajit Sarkar, an auto driver from Jadavpur. “But that doesn’t happen every day. If the gas price increases further, we will practically starve.” “If the cost of gas goes up again, we will have no option but to increase fares,” said Tanmoy Hazra, who drives on the Taratala–Thakurpukur route. (With inputs from Dwaipayan Ghosh & Monotosh Chakraborty)
