Fuel rationing orders withdrawn within 24 hours; auto rickshaws block Jalna Road over CNG shortage

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Within 24 hours of rationing sale of fuel to vehicles, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district collector Dileep Swami and Jalna district collector Ashima Mittal on Saturday withdrew their orders, citing adequate fuel supply to meet vehicular demand in their respective districts.Earlier in the morning, unrest among auto rickshaw drivers spilled onto the streets, with a group blocking the busy Jalna Road in the Chikalthana area on Friday morning over non-availability of CNG. The blockade led to traffic disruption before police teams rushed to the spot and cleared the stretch. Authorities said bandobast has been deployed to avoid any law and order situation. The protest reflects growing frustration among drivers over long queues and rising fuel costs. For the past few days, auto drivers have been lining up for hours at limited CNG outlets in the city, with only two stations operational, leading to severe congestion.Drivers said the situation has worsened over the last fortnight, with CNG prices rising sharply from around Rs 61 per kg to nearly Rs 90. The increase has significantly impacted their earnings. "We are working longer hours but earning less. After expenses, our monthly income has dropped by around Rs 3,000," said a driver waiting in queue.Late-night scenes at CNG stations highlight the severity of the issue. Long queues of autos stretch for hundreds of metres, with drivers waiting four to five hours to refill. Many queue up late at night to avoid losing daytime business, pushing their work hours to 14–15 hours a day."There is no certainty about fuel availability. If we don't get CNG today, we will have to again spend hours in line tomorrow. How will we sustain our livelihood?" said another driver.Auto drivers said a single refill lasts four to five days, making timely access crucial. With families dependent on daily income, delays in refuelling are directly affecting household budgets. Several drivers pointed out that a large part of their working hours is now spent in queues instead of ferrying passengers.The rush has been further aggravated by fears of fuel shortage, triggering panic queuing. Though authorities have maintained that there is sufficient stock, the ground situation remains strained, with drivers continuing to struggle for access to CNG. Police said they are closely monitoring the situation and have stepped up deployment around fuel stations to prevent further disruptions.