Acute CNG shortage hits auto drivers in Patna

PATNA: Auto-rickshaw drivers in the city have been badly hit by the shortage of CNG (compressed natural gas) with the filling stations witnessing long queues throughout the day. Dearth of filing stations in Patna district is also hampering the transition from fossil fuel to CNG.
Patna currently has just three CNG stations and all of them are on the outskirts of the city.Nearly, 2,670 vehicles run on CNG in Patna, including 70 cars.
Around 100 petrol-run autos that had converted to CNG are now forced to use petrol due to the CNG shortage. Rakesh Kumar, who plies his auto between Gandhi Maidan and Saguna Mor, complained of long queues at the Rukanpura filing station.
“The queues are so long that it takes more than seven hours to refill,” said Kumar, adding, “The state government should do something. Since I got the CNG kit fitted my earning has been reduced by 25%.”
Another auto-rickshaw driver, Kuldip Singh said he converted his auto back to petrol. “I started using petrol because my earning has been reduced to Rs 10,500 per month from Rs 18,000. I was not able to save anything,” Singh said.
Bihar State Auto-Chalak Sangh general secretary, Raj Kumar Jha said around 80 auto drivers have reconverted their vehicle to petrol due to the daily ruckus at the CNG stations in Patna.
“How can the state government expect the auto-drivers to convert the vehicles into CNG by January-end, 2021 when they are not able fulfil the demands,” he asked.
GAIL officials in Patna region are looking for private parties to collaborate with to set up more CNG stations. “It is difficult to get land for CNG stations in city. However, five more stations will come up at Saguna Mor, Naubatpur, Digha, Bailey road near RPS Mor and Station road before December 2020,” an official said.