12 April,2017 03:14 PM IST | | mid-day online correspondent
Incensed by low margins, petrol pump owners are planning to call a no purchase petrol and diesel day on May 10, after which they would start to close outlets every Sunday starting May 14
Petrol pump
Representational picture
Incensed by low margins, petrol pump owners are planning to call a "no purchase petrol and diesel day" on May 10, after which they would start to close outlets every Sunday starting May 14.
Also read: Petrol, diesel prices to change every day from May 1
ALSO READ
Farmers gather at Shambhu, Khanauri to mark 100 days of 'Delhi Chalo' protest
Pune boat capsize: Bodies of 5 persons found; search on for another victim
Fire reported at police station, 3 other spots in Delhi
PM Narendra Modi wishes speedy recovery to Saudi Arabia king
Assam govt pays compensation to persons whose houses were demolished in Nagaon
According to a report by Business Insider, they aim to demand higher margin from the government and even plan to operate only from 9 am to 6 pm to cut costs.
Currently most petrol pumps operate between 6 am to 10 pm, while some even function 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Petrol Dealers' Association claim they are sending a message to state-run oil marketing companies through 'No Purchase Day' that they are opting for 'war path'.
Ravi Shinde from the Petrol Dealers' Association says oil companies haven't released dealer margins since 2011, forcing them from taking such a step.
The decision to close petrol pumps on Sundays from May was taken at a meeting of the consortium of Indian Petroleum Dealers, which has 53,000 members. They plan to continue the agitation until higher margins are announced and business becomes viable.
