Autorickshaw drivers fear halt in services as LPG shortage hits Bengaluru

A shortage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) disrupted autorickshaw operations across Bengaluru on Wednesday, with long queues reported at fuel stations in several parts of the city. A few bunks had shut shop as their supply had run out, they claimed. The supply crunch, linked to the ongoing crisis in West Asia, has triggered concern among drivers who rely on LPG for their daily livelihood.

Drivers said the situation could severely impact transport services if it persists for another couple of days. Many warned that a continued shortage may force autorickshaws off the roads, affecting thousands of commuters who depend on them for last-mile connectivity.

Rajesh Kumar, an autorickshaw driver from Baiyappanahalli, said he spent hours trying to refuel, but returned empty-handed. “I began work early in the morning and went to fill LPG, but the queue was unusually long. We were told there was no supply. I tried other stations as well, but the situation was the same everywhere. I have exhausted my fuel just searching for gas,” he said.

The disruption is not limited to Bengaluru. Similar scenes were reported from other parts of Karnataka, where agitated drivers staged protests outside LPG outlets. In Ballari, autorickshaw drivers demonstrated after supplies were halted, alleging price hikes at certain private outlets.

Suresh R., an autorickshaw driver from Ballari, claimed that while the standard LPG price is around ₹84 per litre, some private suppliers were charging up to ₹94. “We protested because this is unfair. Both drivers and passengers are suffering due to the sudden increase and shortage,” he said.

Auto Union leaders too said that these are big concerns which they have not seen so far. Rudramurthy, general secretary of the Auto Rickshaw Drivers’ Union (ARDU), said that rising fuel costs and irregular supply have made it difficult for drivers to sustain daily earnings. “Since Wednesday morning, supply has been inconsistent across stations. Many outlets are not even allowing full tanks, which directly affects our income,” he said.

Meanwhile, M. Manjunath, president of the Adarsh Auto and Taxi Drivers’ Union, attributed the issue largely to private fuel companies. He said state-run oil companies appeared to have relatively stable supply, while private operators were either limiting distribution or increasing prices.