Patna Residents Block Highway in Protest Over Severe LPG Cylinder Shortage
Hundreds of frustrated residents in Patna took to the streets on Sunday morning, blocking the busy Phulwarisharif–AIIMS-Patna main road (NH-98) near Bochachak in a dramatic protest against an acute shortage of LPG cylinders and irregular distribution by a local gas agency. The blockade disrupted traffic movement for over an hour, creating long vehicle queues and significant commuter chaos during peak morning hours.
Families Struggle to Cook as Distribution Halts for Days
According to the protesters, the local gas agency has completely failed to distribute cylinders for the past four consecutive days, leaving numerous households struggling to prepare basic meals. Residents detailed a pattern of frustration where, despite receiving calls from the agency to collect refills, consumers are routinely sent back empty-handed after making the trip to the outlet. This irregular distribution system has forced many families to depend on alternative fuel sources such as:
- Traditional wood-fired stoves
- Electric induction cooktops
- Other makeshift cooking arrangements
Local community members emphasized that while irregular distribution by this particular agency has been a recurring problem for some time, the situation has deteriorated dramatically in recent days, reaching a crisis point that compelled direct action.
Allegations of Exorbitant Black-Market Pricing
The protest revealed even deeper grievances beyond mere distribution delays. Residents alleged that when small domestic cylinders are occasionally refilled, agency staff charge exorbitant rates ranging between Rs 250 and Rs 300 per kilogram—prices far above regulated market rates. Many families described these black-market prices as completely unaffordable, forcing them to either manage without cooking gas entirely or bear steep additional costs that strain already tight household budgets.
Angered by this combination of scarcity and exploitation, hundreds of residents gathered on NH-98 around 9:30 AM, raising loud slogans against the gas agency and deliberately blocking traffic to draw official attention to their plight. The protest resulted in substantial disruption that lasted nearly one-and-a-half hours, with vehicles backed up for considerable distances along this crucial transportation artery.
Administration Intervenes with Assurance of Immediate Action
Upon receiving information about the escalating situation, local administration officials and police personnel rushed to the protest site to negotiate with the demonstrators. Following constructive talks, the protesters agreed to lift the blockade after officials provided firm assurances about immediate steps to restore regular cylinder distribution.
Phulwarisharif police station in-charge Ghulam Shahbaz Alam provided specific details about the resolution, stating that the gas agency owner had informed police that a truck carrying LPG cylinders would arrive shortly at the distribution center. "Distribution will be carried out under police protection. Consumers have been requested to remain calm," Alam confirmed, emphasizing that authorities would monitor the situation closely to ensure promised deliveries actually reach affected households.
The incident highlights growing public frustration with essential commodity distribution systems in urban areas, particularly regarding cooking fuel that directly impacts daily family life. While the immediate blockade has been resolved, underlying issues of reliable supply chain management and price regulation remain pressing concerns for Patna residents who depend on consistent access to affordable LPG for their basic cooking needs.
