Propylene Tanker Accident on Mumbai-Pune Expressway Ignites Safety Debate
The recent overturning of a propylene gas tanker on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway has raised significant questions about the transportation of highly flammable chemicals by road in India. This incident has prompted a closer examination of industry practices and safety protocols.
Why Road Transport Remains the Norm for Propylene
Experts and industry officials emphasize that transporting propylene by road is a routine practice worldwide, driven by demand patterns, logistical constraints, and the absence of viable alternatives. The tanker involved in Tuesday’s incident was carrying 21 tonnes of propylene gas from BPCL’s Kochi refinery to Dahej, a major industrial hub in Gujarat.
In India, propylene is largely produced domestically at refineries and supplied to factories spread across the country, many of which are located far from ports or pipeline networks. According to industry sources, the choice of transport depends primarily on volume and demand, not just the hazardous nature of the material.
Challenges with Pipelines and Shipping
Pipelines are commercially viable only where demand is large and continuous. For scattered or low-volume buyers, laying pipelines is impractical. Shipping, meanwhile, is limited to bulk port-to-port movement and cannot serve inland or last-mile destinations. As a result, road tankers remain the globally accepted solution for door-to-door delivery of pressurised gases such as propylene.
Industry bodies maintain that such transportation is routine across countries and that leak incidents are rare. India’s propylene market is sizeable and growing, with current annual consumption around 7 million tonnes and demand projected to rise to 11 million tonnes by 2031–32.
Safety Measures and Risk Minimization
To minimise risk, propylene is transported in specialised, pressurised tankers operated by licensed transporters. These vehicles require approvals from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), along with dedicated safety-certified equipment, strict hazard documentation, and experienced logistics operators.
Experts say emergency response protocols are designed to prevent gas accumulation in the event of a leak. Bhalchandra M Bhange, vice-chancellor of MS University, Baroda, and a former senior faculty member at the Institute of Chemical Technology, Matunga, noted that while propylene is highly flammable, it is not toxic. The safest response to a propylene leak is rapid diffusion of the gas into the atmosphere to prevent ignition.
Calls for Enhanced Regulation and Safety Protocols
Amit Bhargava, co-founder and CEO of Canada-based EnviroApp, highlighted that the incident underlined the need for better regulation of hazardous cargo movement. He stated, "India has thousands of hazardous material tankers moving daily. It is essential to have designated routes for transporting dangerous goods across highways to prevent incidents like this."
While experts stress that transporting propylene by road is unavoidable under current infrastructure constraints, they warn that rising volumes of hazardous material on highways make stronger safety protocols, designated routes, and faster emergency response systems increasingly critical to prevent future accidents from turning into major disasters.
Traffic and Emergency Response Considerations
Traffic is typically halted during such incidents because even a small spark can trigger an explosion if gas accumulates in a concentrated area. The time taken to control a leak depends on the volume of gas and the size of the breach, and in some cases, decantation into empty tankers may be required.
Major Producers and Supply Chain Dynamics
Major producers of propylene in India include IOCL, BPCL, HPCL, and Reliance Industries, which supply manufacturing units across multiple states. This widespread distribution network necessitates efficient and safe transport solutions to meet growing industrial demands.
