Fuel Crisis Hits Chennai Auto Rickshaws, Long Queues at Gas Stations

Chennai, March 12: The ongoing fuel supply crisis linked to the conflict in West Asia is now impacting Chennai’s transportation sector. Thousands of auto rickshaw drivers are struggling to refuel their LPG and CNG vehicles, while passengers across the city face rising fares.

Drivers report long wait times at gas stations due to fuel shortages, with supply becoming increasingly erratic in recent days. According to union representatives, about a quarter of gas-powered auto rickshaws were unable to refuel on Tuesday. Concerns are growing that if the supply does not improve, the situation may worsen.

S. Balasubramaniam, the state executive president of the Tamil Nadu Auto Thozhilalar Sangam, stated, “Approximately 25 percent of gas autos were unable to refuel on Wednesday. If the shortage continues, this number will certainly increase.”

In addition to the supply issues, many private outlets are reportedly overcharging. The official price for LPG is ₹59.41 per kilogram, but some places are selling it for ₹70-80 per kilogram. Even at oil company outlets, the price has risen to ₹64.51 per kilogram. Balasubramaniam added, “The cost of fuel has already increased, so overcharging has become inevitable. To survive, we have to raise fares slightly.”

Many drivers who opted for gas vehicles to cut costs are now relying on petrol due to the shortage of CNG and LPG. Chennai auto driver K. Rajesh said, “I chose CNG because it was cheaper and offered good mileage. Now, it’s very difficult to find. I have temporarily switched to petrol, which has reduced my income.”

Passengers are also feeling the impact. They report increased auto fares in various parts of Chennai. Passenger Vignesh noted, “The fare from Chennai Central to Egmore is now about ₹40 higher than before.” Another passenger mentioned that the usual fare from Ayanavaram to Koyambedu, which was ₹130, has now risen to around ₹180.

Drivers waiting at filling stations have expressed frustration over the long queues. A driver waiting at a gas station in Madipakkam said, “It now takes two hours to refuel. I arrived early to avoid the crowd, but even then, the supply is not guaranteed.”

Gas station operators are also facing losses due to the low supply. A manager at the G.O. Gas LPG filling station in Little Mount reported that their outlet was closed for two days due to the shortage, resulting in a loss of nearly ₹100,000 per day. “Five of our outlets had to shut down due to the supply shortage. If this situation continues, it will affect both our business and the auto drivers,” he said.

Another LPG station on Mount Road may temporarily close once its current stock runs out. The station manager stated, “Our current stock may run out. The station will remain closed until new supplies arrive.”

Union representatives highlighted that the limited number of LPG dispensing outlets in Chennai exacerbates the problem. The city has around 40,000 LPG autos and approximately 20,000 CNG autos, but only a few stations can dispense LPG. Balasubramaniam noted, “Only 13 stations in Chennai can accommodate LPG tanks due to safety regulations requiring a minimum distance of 500 feet from petrol and diesel tanks. While some independent gas stations have opened in recent years, they are still insufficient to meet demand.”