Ludhiana Faces LPG Crisis as Auto-Rickshaws Shift to Legal Fuel Sources
The ongoing shortage of domestic LPG cylinders in Ludhiana has triggered an unexpected chain reaction, compelling auto-rickshaw drivers to turn to the city's two authorized petrol pumps that legally supply LPG for vehicles. This sudden shift has resulted in an unprecedented spike in demand at these outlets over recent days, as drivers who previously relied on cheaper domestic cylinders are now forced to adopt legal refueling methods despite higher costs.
Surge in Demand at Authorized Pumps
Petrol pump owners have reported a significant increase in vehicle inflow, with daily LPG sales skyrocketing. Ashok Sachdeva, chairman of the Petrol Pump Dealers Association Punjab, highlighted the dramatic change at his Ferozepur Road outlet. "If we were selling around 300 litres earlier, the figure has now crossed 3,000 litres," he stated, directly linking this surge to the disruption in domestic LPG cylinder availability.
For years, many auto-rickshaw drivers have illegally sourced LPG from domestic cylinders due to substantial cost savings. Domestic LPG typically costs between Rs 80 to Rs 85 per kilogram, and since one kilogram of LPG is equivalent to approximately 1.85 litres, drivers effectively obtain gas worth nearly Rs 120 for just Rs 80. In stark contrast, authorized LPG for vehicles at fuel stations is priced at around Rs 63.44 per litre, making legal refueling significantly more expensive.
Drivers Voice Concerns Over Costs
An anonymous auto-rickshaw driver explained the financial burden: "From cylinders, we get gas in kilograms, which costs less. Here at petrol pumps, it is around Rs 64 per litre, so it becomes costlier for us." Another driver, Aman, suggested a potential solution, noting that aligning LPG pump prices with cylinder rates could eliminate illegal practices. "If the government reduces the rates at fuel stations to match cylinder prices, people will automatically shift to legal refueling," he emphasized.
Safety and Revenue Implications
With the shortage limiting access to domestic cylinders, auto-rickshaw drivers have had no choice but to switch to authorized pumps, even at higher costs. Staff at these pumps revealed that the easy and illegal availability of cylinders had been suppressing their LPG sales for years. "We were even considering shutting down the LPG facility because of limited sales. Now suddenly, demand has shot up," a staff member commented.
Dealers have raised serious concerns about the safety risks and revenue losses associated with using domestic cylinders for vehicles. They pointed out that auto-rickshaws lack the necessary fittings and safety standards for such usage, making it highly unsafe. "It is highly unsafe and also results in revenue loss for the government. There needs to be stricter enforcement to stop this malpractice," the staff member added.
Technical Details and Cost Analysis
To clarify the cost disparity, it's important to understand the measurements involved. While there is little difference between one kilogram and one litre for substances like water and milk, in LPG, one kilogram of gas is equivalent to 1.96 litres. An 18-kilogram cylinder contains nearly 35.3 litres of LPG. Therefore, purchasing one kilogram of gas for Rs 80 is far more cost-effective for auto-rickshaw drivers, with the equivalent in litres costing around Rs 120, highlighting the financial incentive behind the illegal practice.
This situation underscores broader issues in fuel management and regulation in Ludhiana, as the LPG shortage not only disrupts daily operations but also exposes systemic challenges in ensuring safe and legal fuel usage for public transport.
