Angry Customers allege petrol pumps played foul by hoarding
Angry Customers allege petrol pumps played foul by hoArding
You didn't need a news bulletin to flash the headline of the day fuel prices had been hiked again. The long queues at the city's petrol pumps told the story loud and clear.
On Wednesday, just days before the General Budget was to be presented, as the government announced a hike
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MERA NUMBER KAB AAYEGA? Cars crowding a filling station in Delhi on Wednesday night.u00a0u00a0 PIC /MID DAY |
in the retail price of petrol by Rs 4 a litre and diesel by Rs 2 a litre, people crowded filling stations till late night to buy as much fuel they could at the lower rate. And, as expected, the pump-owners allegedly played foul by rationing sales and shutting down early to hold on to the cheaper stock.
Dheeraj Kumar, an IT professional, said, "I drove from Gurgaon to Delhi to fill my car's tank. But after queuing up for almost 45 minutes, I was informed I couldn't buy fuel worth more than Rs 1,000. The pump owners cannot ration petrol."
At other pumps, consumers complained payments through credit and debit cards were being rejected. "I was unaware of the price-hike and realised something was amiss once I reached the over-crowded filling station. I got my car's fuel tank filled but the pump refused to accept plastic money. The card payment was accepted only after arguing for 10-15 minutes," said Dev, a car owner.
A few petrol pumps allegedly downed shutters much before the regular closing time. Customers said the pump-owners were trying to make an extra buck but selling less petrol at the lower rate. Subhash Kumar, an employee at a Mayur Vihar petrol pump, rolled in the barricades before the regular closing time.
"This is the instruction from our bosses and we have to act accordingly." But then he spilled the beans: "This is the time to earn by holding on to your old stock and selling it at the new increased rate."
Petrol in Delhi is priced at Rs 44.62 a litre and diesel Rs 32.86 a litre. The government has said it will not raise the prices of domestic LPG and kerosene.
