Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, May 7: CNG vehicle users are facing trouble due to a lack of availability of CNG at fuel stations. In Mangaluru, the demand is high while the supply is comparatively very low, causing inconvenience for CNG vehicle users.
In Mangaluru, there are a maximum of 10 CNG stations, including Adyar, KPT, Kavoor, Panjimogaru, Kulur, Panambur, Baikampady, Surathkal, Hosabettu, and Haleyangadi.
Auto drivers who rely on CNG need to travel long distances to refill their cylinders. Drivers from areas such as Deralakatte, Konaje, Bantwal, Gurpur, and Kaikamba have to travel all the way to Mangaluru or Adyar for CNG, resulting in significant losses for them.
One auto driver stated, “We are facing tough times filling CNG. Whenever we go to the KPT station, it shows out of stock. Then we proceed to Kavoor or Panjimogaru, or even Baikampady to fill the cylinder. It takes more than 10 kilometres to travel to Mangaluru from these stations, which is a loss for us.”
He also mentioned the need for a regular supply of CNG when the demand is high. Some auto drivers queue up early in the morning, but CNG goes out of stock within hours.
A driver from Neermarga travelled all the way to Panjimogaru in search of CNG, as a friend who is also an auto driver informed about its availability there. “We have a WhatsApp group of auto drivers, and in the morning, a message will be forwarded about the availability of CNG in the stations in Mangaluru,” he said, adding that increasing the number of stations in Mangaluru and interior parts like Vamanjoor, Konaje, and Ullal would be helpful for nearby auto drivers.
“I feel that even though mileage is less in LPG, LPG seems to be better than CNG. A fuel station employee said that approximately we get a load of 430 to 500 kg in a day, which runs out within a few hours as an auto needs around 4 kg of CNG and a car needs up to 6 kg depending on their cylinder capacity. In the last few weeks, the supply has decreased,” he said.
When Daijiworld spoke with a GAIL official, he stated, “This is a temporary crisis which will be resolved in the next 15 days as a new station will come up in Baikampady. As of now, we have 27 CNG stations in Dakshina Kannada, including 10 in Mangaluru. We are coming up with an additional 3 stations at Mangaladevi, Ullal, and Talapady which are expected to be completed in August-September 2024. From the CNG mother station in Baikampady, we are also supplying to Udupi along with Mangaluru. We have 20 filling vehicles, and there is high demand for CNG. The crisis is temporary, and we assure it will be resolved in 15 days. We have technical issues with the compressor, and the team has arrived to look into it.”
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