The lack of liquefied Petroleum gas stations in Chennai city has become a cause of concern for the drivers of more than 13,000 LPG fitted autos.
They complain that there was limited gas supply at many stations in the city especially during the peak hours. This is happening at a time when the transport department is advising auto drivers to go for the eco friendly gas run vehicle.
Though the initiative has been appreciated considering the environment degradation and fuel price hike, the lack of station has changed the ground realities, as the drivers feel it is an extra burden on them.
Though there are 23 stations in Chennai, eight stations with Bharat Petroleum Corporation ltd, nine stations with Indian Oil Corporation Limited, six stations with the Hindustan Petroleum in different parts of the city, as reported by an auto driver Babu, many of the station are reluctant to fill enough of gas during peak hours, as the number of gas fitted vehicles has increased on the road which creates further problems.
Since they are supplying less gas, the auto drivers are forced to go for the petrol, which is also fitted in the auto rickshaw. Many of the petrol bunks in fact adopted these methods to promote the sale of petrol.
Long hours of waiting to fill the tanks is more common at the places adjoining to the areas of Guindy, Anna Salai, Royapuram and other places which have more frequency of autos and it will increase with more number of autos to be rolled out and increase of gas fitted vehicles.
Considering the problems faced by the autos, shifting from the petrol to gas kit is a costly affair, as the subsidy from the government is low and the cost of the kit stands to Rs 12,000 and more.
With increase in gas rates from 19.56 in 2002 to 38.6 now, the auto drivers believe that more concessions and hike of rates to be extended.
Some of the auto drivers are of the opinion that gas fitted autos are less efficient, since it gives a less mileage when compared to the petrol and causes further problems.
But some of the managers of the gas stations said that there is no dearth of gas in these stations and the statements are false. They inform that more than 12 tonnes of gas is filled in the LPG gas station every day and it is enough for the demand.
One of the managers of the petrol bunk said that many of the autos run both on petrol and gas. To sell more petrol some of them may adopt such unscrupulous methods, but otherwise there is no problem.