Nagpur: Stocks at several petrol pumps in the city plummeted to critically low levels on Monday following delays in replenishment from oil company depots. While only a handful of pumps were completely dry, many were forced to sell either petrol or diesel, leaving customers scrambling for fuel.
Extended Weekend Blamed for Disruption
Officials from the Federation of All Maharashtra Petrol Dealers Association (FAMPEDA) attributed the shortage to an extended weekend that disrupted supply schedules. Nagpur receives its fuel primarily from the BPCL depot at Borkhedi, located over 30 kilometers away, and from a Nayara Energy facility in Wardha. Maharashtra Day on May 1 was a holiday, followed by Saturday and Sunday closures at the depots. Refilling operations resumed on Monday night, and a senior FAMPEDA office-bearer assured that the situation would return to normal by Tuesday.
Sluggish Supply Throughout Last Week
Sources revealed that supply from the depots had been sluggish for the entire preceding week. “Pumps sent frantic messages to the depots requesting fresh supplies, but the response was lukewarm,” said a source requesting anonymity. Earlier, petrol pumps maintained sufficient stock even during extended weekends. However, the scenario changed after the West Asia crisis, when oil companies stopped offering credit to dealers. “This reduction in credit led to lower offtake, forcing many pumps to manage with minimal stock, thereby increasing the risk of running dry,” the source explained.
The disruption caused inconvenience to motorists, with several pumps displaying ‘out of stock’ signs for either petrol or diesel. Dealers urged oil companies to ensure timely deliveries to prevent such crises in the future.
