Around 30 petrol pumps ran dry in Nagpur on Wednesday, prompting the district collector to urge oil companies to ensure maximum supply. Collector Vipin Itankar directed officials of petroleum firms to address the issue after members of the Federation of Maharashtra Petroleum Dealers Association (FAMPEDA) highlighted the shortage. The dealers, along with oil company representatives, met the collector to discuss supply constraints caused by restricted operating hours and limited credit facilities. The Nagpur administration also coordinated with Wardha authorities to keep the Nayara Energy depot operational beyond 2:30 pm, as the facility’s timing restrictions were slowing down tanker refills. Dealers reported that the strict payment deadlines imposed by some companies, such as BPCL’s Borkhedi pump requiring cash before 2:30 pm, were disrupting refilling processes. Oil company officials were asked to relax payment terms and allow credit to ease the situation. The collector emphasized that there was sufficient stock of petrol and diesel in the district, though consumer behavior had shifted dramatically. Panic buying had led to abnormal spikes in fuel purchases, with two-wheeler riders buying up to Rs 600 worth of fuel instead of their usual Rs 100, while four-wheelers increased their average spending to Rs 2,000–6,000 compared to Rs 300–600. The collector’s note stated that the district had 10,500 kilolitres of petrol and 3,500 kilolitres of diesel in storage, referencing the Borkhedi depot. Amit Gupta, FAMPEDA president, called for consumer restraint, while Viraj Lamba, a dealer at Indora Chowk, noted that panic buying persisted on Wednesday. Officials claimed operations could be managed smoothly with support from the companies.#nagpur #nayara_energy #district_collector #fampeda #borkhedi_pump
