<p>Motorists were inconvenienced with the two-day strike by drivers of fuel tankers in the City on Tuesday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The strike led to fuel shortage in most of the bunks with a large number of motorists standing in long queues, struggling to buy petrol and diesel. <br /><br />The 36-hour strike ended on Tuesday evening, after the oil companies held talks with the agitating drivers. Every day, at least 1,000 tankers arrive in the City, each carrying 20,000 litres of petrol and 5,000 litres of diesel. However, not a single tanker arrived during the strike period, forcing the bunks to display ‘No Stock’ boards.<br /><br />As soon as the strike was withdrawn at 4.15 pm on Tuesday, as many as 500 trucks immediately left the Devangonthi Terminal. Thus, the petrol and diesel supply was restored by 8 pm, but citizens had a tough time till then.<br /><br />Most of the petrol bunks witnessed serpentine queues as motorists stood for hours awaiting their turn. The fuel stations had also restricted the filling to Rs 200 for two-wheelers and Rs 500 for four-wheelers to meet the rush. Fuel was not supplied in bottles to any stranded customer.<br /><br />“I had to wait for more than an hour in the sun afternoon to fill petrol for my two-wheeler at the Shell petrol bunk. Boards around the bunk displayed that regular petrol was not available. I paid Rs 75.15 for a litre of special petrol. The government should ensure that essentials are not affected,” said Jyotsna R, a homemaker.<br /><br />The officials of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, Indian Oil Corporation, and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited have assured the protesters that their demands would be met. For the last six months, the truckers have been demanding a good road from the Devangonthi Terminal. The ‘kuchcha’ road was dangerous leading to accidents, they added.<br /><br />The oil companies have agreed that henceforth trucks will travel via Hoskote to Bengaluru, which would mean a travel of extra 20 km. Until the road is asphalted, the oil companies would bear the extra travel charge. And this would burden the customer further as the fuel price would be hiked in the forthcoming days. The oil companies will now include transport charges while calculating costs. The existing petrol and diesel price in Bengaluru is Rs 66.53 and Rs 52.29, respectively, sources told Deccan Herald. <br /><br />The agitators have sought uniformity in wages. They have also demanded uniformity in the transport allowance, since different companies were offered different amount ranging from Rs 36 to Rs 45. They also demanded insurance cover, hygienic facilities and fixed working hours. The companies have assured the protesters that their problems would addressed within a month’s time, said Petroleum Dealers’ Association chairman Bhushan Narang. Despite repeated attempts, officials of the oil companies did not respond.<br /><br /> </p>
<p>Motorists were inconvenienced with the two-day strike by drivers of fuel tankers in the City on Tuesday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The strike led to fuel shortage in most of the bunks with a large number of motorists standing in long queues, struggling to buy petrol and diesel. <br /><br />The 36-hour strike ended on Tuesday evening, after the oil companies held talks with the agitating drivers. Every day, at least 1,000 tankers arrive in the City, each carrying 20,000 litres of petrol and 5,000 litres of diesel. However, not a single tanker arrived during the strike period, forcing the bunks to display ‘No Stock’ boards.<br /><br />As soon as the strike was withdrawn at 4.15 pm on Tuesday, as many as 500 trucks immediately left the Devangonthi Terminal. Thus, the petrol and diesel supply was restored by 8 pm, but citizens had a tough time till then.<br /><br />Most of the petrol bunks witnessed serpentine queues as motorists stood for hours awaiting their turn. The fuel stations had also restricted the filling to Rs 200 for two-wheelers and Rs 500 for four-wheelers to meet the rush. Fuel was not supplied in bottles to any stranded customer.<br /><br />“I had to wait for more than an hour in the sun afternoon to fill petrol for my two-wheeler at the Shell petrol bunk. Boards around the bunk displayed that regular petrol was not available. I paid Rs 75.15 for a litre of special petrol. The government should ensure that essentials are not affected,” said Jyotsna R, a homemaker.<br /><br />The officials of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, Indian Oil Corporation, and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited have assured the protesters that their demands would be met. For the last six months, the truckers have been demanding a good road from the Devangonthi Terminal. The ‘kuchcha’ road was dangerous leading to accidents, they added.<br /><br />The oil companies have agreed that henceforth trucks will travel via Hoskote to Bengaluru, which would mean a travel of extra 20 km. Until the road is asphalted, the oil companies would bear the extra travel charge. And this would burden the customer further as the fuel price would be hiked in the forthcoming days. The oil companies will now include transport charges while calculating costs. The existing petrol and diesel price in Bengaluru is Rs 66.53 and Rs 52.29, respectively, sources told Deccan Herald. <br /><br />The agitators have sought uniformity in wages. They have also demanded uniformity in the transport allowance, since different companies were offered different amount ranging from Rs 36 to Rs 45. They also demanded insurance cover, hygienic facilities and fixed working hours. The companies have assured the protesters that their problems would addressed within a month’s time, said Petroleum Dealers’ Association chairman Bhushan Narang. Despite repeated attempts, officials of the oil companies did not respond.<br /><br /> </p>
