Jamshedpur: CNG auto owners protest fuel scarcity in Steel City

JAMSHEDPUR: Drivers and owners of CNG-powered auto-rickshaws protested at the Mango refilling station on Friday against the erratic supply of fuel.

They claimed that the shortage of CNG at the filling stations is forcing them to wait in queues for as long as 20 hours, which in turn is adversely affecting their business.

"We are facing troubles while ferrying children to their schools and the daily commuters and officegoers are also suffering as well," said Naresh Rajak, who runs his own CNG auto. Gopal Yadav, another CNG auto owner, said they are unable to make timely repayment of their vehicle loan due to poor business.

The protesters also rued that there are only four CNG filling stations in Jamshedpur located at Mango, Bistupur, Sakchi, and Burmamines and cater to 850 CNG autos. "The government's efforts to promote CNG-powered autos will get a boost if the problem of fuel availability is sorted out," said Pawan Pandey, the president of the Jamshedpur Tempo Chalak Union (JTCU).

Over 8,000 autos in Jamshedpur still ply on diesel.

Meanwhile, East Singhbhum district transport officer Dinesh Ranjan said, "The supply of CNG has been affected after the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) had some snags in its supply lines. GAIL authorities have assured us to resolve the problem soon."

Auto-rickshaw owners, who were planning to equip their vehicles with CNG kits, are now skeptical. "If the shortage of fuel continues, we will have to think twice before fitting the CNG kits," an auto owner said.

The protesters said if the matter is not addressed within the next few days, then they would launch a massive agitation at all the CNG refilling stations across the city.

Auto-rickshaw driver Mohamed Shariq said besides fixing the issue of irregular supply, GAIL should also work on increasing the CNG refilling stations in the city.

"If there are more refilling stations across the city, then a particular station will not see the rush," he added.