Kolkata Grapples with Severe LPG Supply Disruption
The first Monday following the LPG supply disruption in Kolkata laid bare the depth of the city's fuel crisis, triggering widespread panic refueling among auto-rickshaw drivers and domestic consumers. This resulted in extensive queues forming outside LPG dispensing stations across the metropolis.
Transport Services Severely Impacted
Auto-rickshaws failed to operate at full capacity throughout Kolkata. Although conditions showed notable improvement as the day progressed, commuters continued to encounter significant hardships. According to the Auto-Operators' Welfare Association, more than 10% of autos remained off the roads, exacerbating transportation woes.
Kolkata is equipped with 19 auto-LPG dispensing stations, but drivers reported persistently uneven supply, with some stations depleting their stocks earlier than anticipated. Consequently, numerous auto drivers invested hours waiting in serpentine lines to refill their tanks instead of transporting passengers, directly affecting their daily earnings.
Surge in Demand Overwhelms Supply Chain
A manager at an LPG dispensing station in south Kolkata disclosed that demand escalated abruptly over recent days and has yet to stabilize. "After news of the fuel crisis spread, many drivers rushed to refill their vehicles. The pressure on the supply chain increased sharply," the manager explained. "We are striving to maintain supply, but queues are forming because refueling demand is unusually high."
Commuters Face Extended Delays and Uncertainty
For countless commuters, the disruption translated into prolonged waiting periods and uncertainty, particularly during peak hours. Moushumi Dey, attempting to reach Esplanade metro station, shared her ordeal: "I waited for 15 minutes to secure a ride to the metro station. From there, I must proceed to Sealdah to board a local train to Barrackpore."
Multiple passengers reported analogous delays, with autos either being unavailable or demanding higher fares on certain routes. Auto drivers identified the protracted waiting times at refueling stations as their primary challenge.
Auto Drivers Detail Personal Hardships
Md Suhail, who operates an autorickshaw on the Park Circus–Dharmatala route, recounted waiting up to four hours at the Lichu Park LPG station near Ballygunge Phari. "The gas supply problem is not resolved yet. I sometimes have to wait for over hours to refill. That means I lose several trips and my earnings go down," he lamented.
Another driver, SK Shahnawaz, managed to complete merely five trips before exhausting his fuel. "I contacted a friend to inquire about available gas nearby, but he was also stuck in a queue at another station. During Eid, this kind of crisis creates immense difficulties," he expressed.
Business Operations Disrupted
The transport disruption also reverberated through local businesses. Mumtaz Ahmed, proprietor of a medical shop on Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road, highlighted how irregular auto services impeded employees from arriving at work punctually. "It became arduous for my staff to commute to the shop because autos were not running regularly. Now that the situation has improved slightly, there is some relief," he noted.
The collective impact of the LPG crisis underscores the vulnerability of Kolkata's transportation network and the urgent need for stabilized fuel supply to restore normalcy for both commuters and the city's economic activities.
