Petrol & diesel only at a premium in City

Petrol & diesel only at a premium in City
DH News Service, Bangalore:
A petrol station on St Mark's Road was found selling only premium petrol. When a two-wheeler rider asked for normal petrol, the reply given by an attendant was "No stock. Only premium petrol available. You have to pay more for a litre."


A common scenario in the City during the past one week has been the non-availability of “ordinary” petrol and diesel at most outlets.

Already fuming over the recent hike in petrol and diesel prices, consumers are furious at being forced to purchase premium brands, which are pricier than the normal one.

Some bunks have pasted the names of brands across the pumps indicating that only branded ones are available. Many employees announce it loudly to customers when they land with their vehicles.

An Indian Oil bunk at Padmanabha Nagar had different varieties of petrol but ordinary diesel was not available.
“It has been the scenario for one week as we have not been supplied stocks of the ordinary brand,” a bunk employee here said. “It is not only our bunk, but Indian Oil outlets all over have been experiencing the same problem,” he added.

Raghunandan, a resident of AGS Layout in Uttarahalli recalls: “I took my vehicle to fill ordinary petrol at four outlets on Sunday and finally managed to get it only at the fifth bunk, located at Basavangudi.”

Extra-ordinary times

He adds, “None of the bunks had any stock of the ordinary petrol but were willing to provide ‘Extra Mile’ or other premium brands.”

A petrol station on St Mark’s Road was found selling only premium petrol. When a two-wheeler rider asked for normal petrol, the reply given by an attendant was “No stock. Only premium petrol available. You have to pay more for a litre.”

Brand drive

DGM (Retail Sales), Indian Oil, Karnataka, C Ganesh says, “Oil companies are definitely encouraging the use of branded petrol as it would cause less pollution and the losses we suffer will be lesser. But there is no move to force the customer to stop using ordinary petrol or stop its supply. We are just promoting brands.”

President of the Bangalore Petroleum Dealers’ Association, Bhushan Narang, said, “There is clearly a small scarcity of ordinary petrol and diesel all over Karnataka. This is the same all over the country. Companies are not able to import due to the high prices of crude oil.”

“I do not see any solution to it in the near future,” he added.


Fuel prices

*Ordinary petrol: Rs 57.15
*Branded petrol: Rs 61.15
*Ordinary diesel: Rs 39.15
*Branded diesel: Rs 41.15