One Monday afternoon in Bengaluru, an autorickshaw driver named Rajesh is waiting outside Sir M Visveshwaraya Station. He has been waiting for 30 minutes, but still hasn’t found a single passenger. This situation is becoming common for many auto drivers in the city.
Most autorickshaws in Bengaluru run on LPG (liquefied petroleum gas). Only a small number use CNG or electric power. Because of this, many drivers depend heavily on LPG to keep their vehicles running.
Recently, there has been a shortage of LPG in the city. Due to this, long queues have formed at fuel stations. Drivers are forced to spend a lot of time waiting just to fill their tanks. This reduces the time they can spend picking up passengers.
As a result, drivers like Rajesh are making fewer trips in a day. This directly affects their daily earnings. Many auto drivers are already facing problems due to rising fuel costs and increasing competition from app-based taxi services. The LPG shortage has made their situation even more difficult.
Overall, the fuel shortage is not only causing delays but also affecting the livelihoods of many auto drivers in Bengaluru.