LPG shortage taking big toll on 1 lakh auto drivers

Hyderabad: An acute shortage of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) in the city has been causing significant distress among nearly one lakh auto-rickshaw drivers, impacting their livelihoods. Besides, urban mobility across the city has been affected.

The impact is visible across several areas in the city, where streets are empty of auto-rickshaws while long lines extending for kilometers are visible outside gas stations.

Auto drivers continue to face problems due to a shortage of LPG gas. They complain of being forced to wait in long queues for 4-5 hours at the gas stations. With no clarity on when supplies will arrive, the drivers in the night are sleeping in their vehicles standing in a queue outside the gas station, hoping the tanker arrives the next morning. However, more than half of the drivers are forced to wait endlessly, day and night, in queues on the roads.

Some auto drivers said that earlier they used to earn Rs 800 - Rs 1,000 a day. Now they are spending night and day waiting for fuel and returning home empty-handed. Sathi Reddy, an auto rickshaw driver at a Lakdikapul fuel station, said “We are sleeping outside the gas stations at night, waiting to get the fuel tank refilled. The government is least bothered to resolve the issue, as several hundreds of auto drivers are severely affected.”

Another auto driver, Shaik Khaja at Erragadda, said “There are over 200 auto rickshaws lined up outside the gas station. We are not sure whether the gas station will have enough fuel for all these vehicles. In recent days, several autos were forced to return back empty as the supplies got exhausted,” he said.

It has been observed that, with autos running out of LPG gas and many were stuck at fuel stations, the city’s transport system has taken a hit. Various areas are now devoid of autos, leaving numerous passengers inconvenienced by the lack of available rides. Additionally, those relying on ride-hailing services such as Ola, Uber, and Rapido often discover that ‘no autos are available’. Even when autos do appear on the streets, commuters alleged that drivers are charging inflated fares, justifying these increases by pointing to the ongoing gas shortage.

Meanwhile, Telangana Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy wrote a letter to Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, to address the shortage of auto LPG in Telangana. The issues, specifically faced by autos dependent on LPG, are affecting livelihoods of the drivers and their families, and public transport too.

Citing available data, the minister said that there are around one lakh autos in the state dependent on LPG. “Due to the prevailing supply constraints, there is a shortfall of around 55 MTs (metric tonnes) per day of auto LPG in Telangana. As a result, a majority of private outlets are facing ‘dry-out’, causing disruptions in public transport services and consequent public disorder.”

On pricing, the Minister pointed to a widening gap between public and private sector rates, with auto LPG at PSU outlets priced at Rs 75 per litre, while private operators are charging Rs 93 per litre. He urged the Centre to put in place regulatory measures to prevent further unwarranted price increases during a crisis.

“Prompt intervention in this matter will help alleviate the current challenges, ensure the uninterrupted operation of public transport services, and safeguard the livelihoods of auto drivers and their families,” the Minister wrote.