Petrol dealers’ meet minister over crisis

Bhubaneswar: With fuel filling stations across Odisha still witnessing rush, Utkal Petroleum Dealers’ Association general secretary Sanjay Lath said on Saturday that the crisis would normalise by Sunday evening if supply from depots to retail outlets remained uninterrupted.

Lath, along with other association members, met food supplies and consumer welfare minister Krushna Chandra Patra to discuss the situation. Representatives of three oil companies were also present at the meeting.

“The minister was apprised about the circumstances leading to the crisis, chaos and panic buying. In presence of the oil companies, we told the minister that if supply from depot to the petrol pumps remains seamless on Saturday and Sunday, then not only will the urban centres but also interior Odisha will get fuel in their filling stations,” Lath told TOI.

The assurance came even as panic buying and uneven supply continued to affect normal operations at many outlets. Late on Friday night, long queues were seen outside several petrol pumps, with many customers forced to return after staff shut the stations and closed the gates, citing exhaustion of stock. At some outlets, motorists remained in queue throughout the night and received fuel only in the early hours after waiting for nearly five hours.

“I had no option but to stay calm. Hundreds of vehicles were ahead of and behind me. I knew well that I will have to wait,” said Rajesh Shankar Mitra, who spent hours at a filling station.

On Saturday morning, the situation presented a mixed picture. Smaller petrol pumps, including those located in the heart of the city and at important junctions, saw little or no rush. In contrast, larger filling stations along major roads remained heavily crowded, with long lines of cars spilling onto busy stretches and slowing traffic movement.

Lath said the next 24 hours would be crucial in restoring confidence among consumers and easing pressure on the retail network. He said if the situation did not return to normal by Monday morning, the association would again approach the minister.