Tanker drivers' stir over bad road may hit fuel supply to city

Fuel supplies to the city could be hit on Sunday as tanker drivers and helpers went on a protest against the poor condition of the road leading to an oil depot on the outskirts.

Around 18 lakh litres of oil which was supposed to reach the city from an inventory unit in Devanagonthi near Malur was stalled because of the protest.

The drivers protested on Saturday against the bad condition of the road leading from the oil and LPG inventory unit in Devanagonthi to the main road.  

Inventory units of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) and cooking gas are located in Devanagonthi.

Supplies to Bengaluru, Tumakuru and Kolar are sourced from this unit, said Sriram, leader of the oil tanker drivers association.

"The eight-kilometre-road from the unit to the main road has been in a bad state for several years. No work has been taken up to improve it. The number of accidents is increasing and our lives are at risk," he said.

He said they had raised the issue several times before but only promises were made and no action taken.

A part of the road falls under the BBMP's jurisdiction while the other part is under the Public Works Department.

There is confusion over which authority should take up the road repairs, the drivers said.
The protesters urged the government to intervene and resolve the issue, failing which the strike would continue and oil supply to the city would be disrupted.

BBMP Joint Director (West) said, "Repairing the road from Devanagonthi to Whitefield is the responsibility of the public works department. The road from Hope Farm junction in Whitefield to Hoodi and roads in the city limits come under the BBMP."

In a press release, the BBMP stated that the road from Whitefield to Hoodi was in a good condition. Work on a pipeline by the minor irrigation department was in progress between Dakshina Pinakini river and Kadugodi. They assured that the work would be completed in 15 days.