Queue & A: CNG drivers line up for answers as demand beats supply

Bhopal:

Bhopal: As the West Asia war and the seemingly unending blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key water route for the transshipment of energy, continues to squeeze global crude supply, commuters relying on CNG vehicles in Bhopal are enduring mounting frustration amid chronic fuel shortages at the city’s limited refueling stations.

With just 28 active CNG pumps dotting the Madhya Pradesh capital, compared to a whopping 191 petrol and diesel outlets, long queues and extended wait times have become the norm, disrupting daily routines for thousands of eco-conscious drivers.

The imbalance has sparked widespread complaints from vehicle owners, many of whom switched to CNG for its cost savings and lower emissions. “We wait up to two hours at stations, sometimes returning home with half-empty tanks,” said Om Prakash, a cab driver from TT Nagar.

“It’s unreliable for work, especially during peak hours,” said another.

Similar grievances echoed across auto-rickshaw unions and others, who also pointed to an infrastructure shortfall undermining the push for greener transport.

The Madhya Pradesh Petrol Pump Dealers Association, meanwhile, pinpointed the root issue: insufficient stations to match surging demand. “The situation won’t improve until we have at least 100 CNG pumps in the city,” said Ajay Singh, the president of the association.

While he claimed CNG supply has nothing to do with the West Asia war, the fact remains that India does depend significantly on its fuel imports to ensure a steady supply of compressed natural gas across states and UTs.

“Demand has tripled in the last three years, but supply hasn’t kept pace. We’re urging the Madhya Pradesh government and oil companies to fast-track new setups,” he added.

City officials acknowledged the supply strain.

A senior executive from a major gas distributor, speaking anonymously, revealed plans for 15 additional stations by year-end, pending land approvals and regulatory nods. However, environmental activists hail CNG’s role in curbing air pollution—Bhopal’s AQI often spikes above 150—but warn that shortages could deter adoption, pushing users back to pricier fossil fuels.

To this, the association countered saying petrol infrastructure evolved over decades, while CNG is a relatively new entrant. “If CNG supplies slated for morning delivery arrive 3-4 hours late, it results in inevitable overcrowding at pump stations. Frustrated customers either queue up patiently or look for fuel elsewhere. The fix is clear: build more CNG stations now,” Singh said.

As Bhopal eyes sustainable mobility under the state’s green agenda, the CNG crisis underscores a pressing gap. Without swift action, owners’ plight risks escalating into a full-blown mobility bottleneck.