Vijayawada: Panic buying of petrol and diesel continued across Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday despite repeated government assurances of adequate supply, leading to long queues and chaotic scenes at filling stations.
Authorities imposed limits of ₹200 for two-wheelers and ₹1,500 for four-wheelers, with police deployed to regulate crowds. Yet motorists found ways to bypass restrictions, visiting multiple bunks, carrying extra bottles, or sending family members to different outlets. "Even after filling once, people are standing in line again at another bunk. This is creating unnecessary panic," said B Raju, a pump boy on MG Road.
Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the situation via teleconference from Visakhapatnam with district collectors, oil company representatives, and senior officials. He sought details on dispatch and availability, and was informed that supplies were being transported round-the-clock, with 1,402 loads dispatched by early morning. Between midnight and 6 am alone, 2,173 kilolitres of petrol and 2,846 kilolitres of diesel were sold. Officials said the number of dry stations had reduced significantly, with fuel available in most outlets except around 432 as of 6 am. The chief minister directed continuous monitoring until normalcy is restored and suggested token or slot-based systems to eliminate queues.
Meanwhile, NTR district collector G Lakshmisha personally supervised distribution in Vijayawada, coordinating with officials to streamline supply and prevent misuse.
