Bengaluru: In a major relief amid the ongoing fuel shortage, Indian Oil Corporation has increased auto LPG supply in Bengaluru by nearly 300%, aiming to ease the crisis faced by autorickshaw drivers across the city.
According to officials, the company supplied around 75.5 metric tonnes (MT) of auto LPG in a single day, a sharp jump from the pre-crisis average of nearly 23 MT per day. This significant surge is part of efforts to stabilise fuel availability and reduce long queues at dispensing stations.
The impact of the crisis has not been limited to the city alone. Across Karnataka, IOC has nearly doubled its supply to over 83 MT per day, compared to the earlier average of about 43.5 MT daily, to support growing demand across the state.
The shortage was primarily triggered by disruptions at private Auto LPG Dispensing Stations (ALDS), which typically account for nearly 80% of the auto LPG market in Bengaluru and other parts of Karnataka. With many of these outlets either shut or operating at limited capacity, fuel demand has shifted heavily to public sector outlets, leading to supply pressure.
Officials noted that all IOC-operated ALDS outlets are functioning without interruption, and additional operational measures have been implemented to ensure continuous fuel availability. However, long queues and increased waiting times continue to be reported due to the sudden spike in demand.
The crisis has significantly affected autorickshaw drivers, many of whom depend entirely on LPG for daily operations. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and have indicated that further steps may be taken to stabilise supply and minimise disruptions in the coming days.
The move to ramp up supply is being seen as a critical intervention to support Bengaluru’s transport ecosystem, which relies heavily on auto LPG as a cleaner and cost-effective fuel alternative.
