Nashik Grapples with Severe Fuel Shortage as 40% of Petrol Pumps Run Dry
Nashik city witnessed significant disruptions in fuel supply on Friday, with close to 40% of petrol pumps running dry by Thursday evening. This led to long queues at operational outlets across the city, though most refrained from imposing strict sales limits.
Sales Caps Introduced in Central Areas to Manage Stock
In an effort to stretch their dwindling fuel reserves, some outlets, particularly in central Nashik, implemented temporary sales caps. Two-wheelers were restricted to purchases of Rs 300, while four-wheelers faced a limit of Rs 2,000. Dealers attributed the crisis to unpredictable consumption patterns driven by a sudden spike in demand.
"The pattern of consumption has become unpredictable due to the sudden spike in demand," stated petrol pump operators. They reported that nearly 60% of pumps had gone dry by Thursday evening, leaving only 40% functional. Although there was a slight improvement by Friday evening, with about 40% of pumps running dry, the overall supply-demand imbalance continued to pressure fuel outlets.
Dealers Report Slight Improvement but Persistent Rush
Motorists experienced relatively shorter waiting times on Friday compared to earlier in the week, but queues remained a common sight. Vijay Thakre, president of the Nashik District Petrol Dealers Welfare Association, explained that while several outlets received fresh fuel tankers on Friday morning, many ran dry again by evening due to persistent rush.
"Around 40% of petrol pumps dried by Friday evening. The functional pumps did see queues, but the rush was comparatively lower than the last few days," Thakre said. He urged citizens not to panic, emphasizing that fuel supply to the district remained adequate and expressing confidence that the situation would stabilize over the next couple of days as panic buying subsides.
Supply Strain Across Nashik's 550 Petrol Pumps
Nashik district has approximately 550 petrol pumps, including nearly 170 within city limits. The crisis was exacerbated by heavier inflows of vehicles at pumps located along highways, adding to the overall strain on supply. Dealers highlighted that the imbalance was temporary and linked to abnormal buying behavior rather than a fundamental shortage.
Key points from the situation include:
- Long queues formed at operational petrol pumps across Nashik city.
- Sales caps were introduced in central areas to manage limited stock.
- Dealers reported a slight improvement by Friday evening but noted ongoing pressure.
- Vijay Thakre urged calm, predicting stabilization as regular purchasing patterns resume.
- Highway pumps faced additional strain due to increased vehicle inflow.
The Nashik District Petrol Dealers Welfare Association continues to monitor the situation closely, advising motorists to avoid hoarding and return to normal fuel purchase habits to help ease the crisis.
