AP dealers urge govt to allow full fuel fill for heavy vehicles

Vijayawada: Fuel prices have gone up sharply once again across the country. The oil marketing companies have announced the fresh increase of petrol and diesel prices by Rs 2.61 and Rs 2.71 per litre respectively in Andhra Pradesh.The AP Federation of Petroleum Dealers has urged the AP civil supplies department to permit full tank fuelling for heavy goods and passenger vehicles by directing the OMCs to remove the restriction imposed on retail outlets not to refill beyond 200 litres of fuel in a single transaction.Following a fresh hike in fuel prices—₹2.61 per litre for petrol and ₹2.71 for diesel—the AP Federation of Petroleum Dealers has urged the civil supplies department to permit full-tank fuelling for heavy vehicles by lifting the 200-litre cap imposed by oil marketing companies (OMCs), stating that the restriction is impractical for commercial transport operations.Under the revised rates, petrol is priced at ₹117.16 per litre and diesel at ₹104.89 in Vijayawada. In Visakhapatnam, petrol costs ₹116.39 and diesel ₹104.11, while Tirupati recorded petrol at ₹117.08 and diesel at ₹104.75—among the highest in the country, adding to the burden on transporters.In a joint representation to Civil Supplies Commissioner K Kanna Babu, the AP Federation of Petroleum Traders and AP Lorry Owners Association said heavy vehicles, including lorries and buses, typically have tank capacities of 350–400 litres. However, the cap on dispensing more than 200 litres per transaction has placed dealers in a difficult position, as operators insist on full-tank refuelling during long-haul trips.“Dealers dispensing more than 200 litres face notices, blocked sales through automation systems and punitive action from OMCs such as HPCL and BPCL, affecting business operations and livelihoods,” the representation said.The associations added that diesel is also supplied to farmers, aquaculture units, borewell operators and hospital generators based on authorised letters from officials such as MROs, making uninterrupted supply essential, particularly during peak agricultural and summer demand periods.They urged the government to direct OMCs to remove the cap and ensure smooth functioning of retail outlets and uninterrupted fuel supply to the transport, agriculture and allied sectors across the state.