Petrol Stations Switch Over To ‘Premium’, As Normal Petrol Stocks Get Depleted

Hyderabad: Panic buying and supply constraints have led to many fuel outlets in Secunderabad and Hyderabad suspending the sale of regular petrol and switching to premium models, citing depletion of regular stocks.

At more than one station, attendants notified customers that only premium gasoline was available because regular fuel had run out. The price difference between the two vehicles is Rs 10 per liter, the price of regular petrol is Rs 107 and the price of premium petrol is Rs 117.

Station operators described the situation as unusual. “Usually we do not run out of stocks. But panic buying has pushed the stocks to rock bottom. This is unprecedented in my career of nearly two decades. A large number of anxious customers have come here to inquire about the possibility of running out of oil due to the evolving situation in West Asia,” said Md Irshad, manager of Bharat Petrol Pump at Sangeet Junction in Secunderabad.

Fuel stations supplying auto LPG also reported shortages by displaying ‘out of stock’ warnings in their distribution units. Auto-rickshaw drivers, who rely on auto LPG, were seen queuing at the few outlets that were still in operation.

“After visiting 4-5 stations in this part of the city, I am now standing in a long queue. We have to wait in this queue as most auto LPG stations in the city have already run out of stock. I am afraid that if this gas station also runs out of stock, I may have to manually tow my car and leave it here. The prices have increased a lot. Now it is sold at a price close to Rs 100 per litre, instead of Rs 100 earlier.” 60,” said K Shravan Kumar, a resident of Nampally, while waiting outside a private petrol pump selling auto LPG in Lakdikapul.

Dealers stated that private operators are selling LPG at higher prices due to shortage. “Before we ran out of stocks about five days ago, we sold 8,000 liters a day and by the time the West Asian crisis hit, the figure had touched 15,000 on an average. We officially sold gas at 77 rupees per liter. People are in a panic even though the Indian Oil Corporation informed us that they had stocks for 57 days,” said a vendor running an IOCL outlet in Begumpet.