LPG supply delay sparks protest, traffic hit in Phulwarisharif

Patna: Residents staged a protest on Tuesday morning after being denied LPG cylinders at a local gas agency, leading to blocking of traffic for nearly two hours on the busy stretch of National Highway-139 in Phulwarisharif area.The agitation began around 7am, when hundreds of consumers reached the agency to collect their booked cylinders. However, they were told that the supply truck had not yet arrived. Enraged by the repeated delay, the consumers squatted on the road with their empty cylinders, bringing traffic to a standstill for about 2 km near Nawada More, close to AIIMS-Patna. As a result of the protest, commuters and pedestrians had to face great inconvenience as vehicles queued up on the highway. Many consumers complained that they regularly receive SMS alerts confirming their gas bookings, yet deliveries fail to happen on schedule. Others alleged that they were waiting in queues since early morning without any assurance of receiving their cylinders. They also alleged that officials at the agency provided no clear or satisfactory answers.Local residents described the issue as a recurring problem, claiming that delays and missed turns have become routine in the area. Some protesters further accused agency staff of arbitrary behaviour and alleged that cylinders were being diverted and sold at higher prices in the black market, while genuine registered customers were left waiting.The protest continued until around 9am when Phulwarisharif police, led by SHO Ghulam Shahbaz Alam, reached the spot and tried to calm the situation. The consumers, however, refused to disperse until their grievances were addressed, demanding immediate reforms in the LPG distribution system to prevent such disruptions in the future.The SHO told TOI that some consumers who came for the refill started protesting after the gas cylinder did not reach the agency on Tuesday morning. “After a lot of persuasion, they dispersed and the smooth vehicular movement was restored,” he said.Agency owner Ravindran said payments for the cylinders were already cleared, but the non-arrival of the truck created the crisis. He requested police assistance to ensure smooth and safe distribution once the supply reached the agency.The district administration, on the other hand, claimed that the supply was normal and there was no shortage of LPG. The officers were directed to ensure smooth and transparent supply of LPG cylinders and take strict action against complaints of black marketing, hoarding and overpricing.