People were quick to rush to fuel stations and fill petrol in their vehicles and the result was hardly surprising: The bunks shut shop, claiming that they had run out of fuel stocks.
Fuel stations in areas like Seshadripuram and Jayanagar experienced long queues as news of the price hike spread by evening. By Wednesday night, most bunks were barricaded and vehicles turned away by personnel who were apparently in a hurry to go home. Their alibi: Motorists had filled their tanks to the brim and the stocks had exhausted faster than
usual. Shyam Sundar, an IT professional supporting a family of four, commented that the hike did not come as a big surprise as it was expected. “Prices of vegetables and groceries have just shot up in the recent months. This will worsen the situation for us,” Shyam Sundar said.
Burden on common man
However, the case was not similar for many who got agitated when the news spread about the petro-prices hike. “The transportation charges will go up and will burden the common man with whose votes governments are formed in Delhi and states. Already recession is hitting the market badly and the Government should have considered the case of jobless lots,” said Mahendra.
The Karnataka Lorry Owners Associations Federation president and vice-president Shanmugappa and Chenna Reddy were very critical about the petro-price hike.
Shanmugappa said, “It will add more burden on the people and for the transporters it will incur loss. The transporters will not be left with other option than to increase their rates. Our federation will hold a meeting where we will discuss our future course of action.”
There is a general relief that LPGs have been spared from any rise in price hike. The recent power cuts inflicted in the morning have lead to many houses using gas to heat water. This has lead to greater dependence on the LPG and a rise in the price of this too, would have hit the consumer hard.
