Fuel fears spread across MMR after a Kharghar outlet shut, dealers urge calm

Despite scattered disruptions at a few petrol pumps across Navi Mumbai and parts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region MMR fuel dealers and pump operators have insisted there is no fuel shortage at present and appealed to citizens not to panicbuy However isolated shutdowns long queues at select outlets and rumours linked to global tensions trig gered anxiety among motorists on ThursdayA midday ground check across MMR found most fuel stations operating normally with disruptions at select outlets linked to payment issues and delayed replenishment mdash not because of a lack of fuel stockEastern suburbsDealers blame payment system shiftFormer Petrol Dealers Association of Mumbai president Ravi Shinde said oil companies had moved away from their longrunning credit system and were now demanding advance payments before fuel deliveryRavi Petrol Pump in ChemburWe are in fuel saving modeRavi Shinde former president Petrol Dealers Association of MumbailsquoWhat many people are assuming mdash that there is a shortage of petrol in the country leading to pumps being closed mdash is a halftruth As the war in West Asia is ongoing we as a country are in a fuelsaving mode and that is true But the reasons for pumps being closed are different In the last few weeks oil companies have stopped functioning on the credit system and are demanding upfront payments for fuel delivery which has caused the issue If a pump wants fuel supplied on Monday or Tuesday oil companies are now asking for payments on Sundays or Saturdays When pump owners do not have cash in hand they shut operations as banks are closed over the weekend as wellrsquoCommuter SpeakMahendra Patil Auto driverlsquoI or any of my friend or family have not faced any difficulty We are running smoothly and hope to be doing the same in the coming weeksrsquoNo lack of supplyChetan Modi Petrol Dealers Association presidentlsquoThere could be hoarding or other issues But there is no lack of fuel supply for now There has been a change in the system for security by not supplying advance stock which might have led to issues for some Earlier the payment was done in the evening after the tanker had unloaded fuel now payment is sought before the tankers are unloaded This must have led to problems for a few who take fuel on credit But categorically there are no shortage issues for nowrsquoWestern suburbsRumours high disruption lowA spot check across western suburbs found most pumps functioning normally despite online rumours of shortagesFuel station ownerlsquoWe are receiving regular supply from the oil company so no supply issue yet Some pumps may have gone dry briefly due to their individual financial irregularitiesrsquo The Bharat Petroleum outlet at Murali Bohara Chowk in Goregaon remained fully operationalrsquoBP outlet in GoregaonCommuter voicesKaran Kamble Goregaon residentlsquoFrom Goregaon to Santacruz I havenrsquot noticed any petrol pump that has gone dryrsquoAslam Munir Shaikh Nalasopara residentlsquoApart from a petrol pump near Andheri station where the petrol tanker had not arrived no pump has failed to provide me with petrolrsquoPump owner voiceAshok Chedda Owner Matunga Auto IOL pumplsquoDue to the war oil supply may or may not be hampered in near future that uncertainty remains but currently no such shortage is therersquoNavi MumbaiOne shutdown multiple queuesThe closure of an HP petrol pump in Kharghar Sector12 caused paniclike scenes with motorists crowding nearby pumps fearing a wider crisis The outlet displayed a notice stating petrol diesel and CNG were unavailableThe shutdown pushed customers towards nearby stations especially an Indian Oil outlet in Sector14 where long queues formed through the dayRavi Sabne Manager of the HP outletlsquoThere is no stock available at present as the supply is not coming from the Vashi terminal The same situation has continued for the last two daysrsquoAn Indian Oil officiallsquoThere is no shortage of stock or supply problem from our terminal Because the HP petrol pump at Sector12 is not operational many vehicle owners are coming here which is resulting in long queuesrsquoRaju Yadav Manager Bharat Petroleumrsquos Sector2lsquoAs of now there is no issue regarding stock or supply at our pump The Sewree terminal has adequate stock But we cannot predict what the situation may be in the coming daysrsquoCommuter SpeaksSachin Kamble Kharghar residentlsquoThe board mentioning no petrol and diesel availability is creating fear among the public Many people are linking it to warlike situations and possible shortagesrsquoMumbai CNG price up by Rs 2kg now costs Rs 84The Mahanagar Gas Limited MGL on Thursday announced a Rs 2 per kg hike in Compressed Natural Gas CNG prices in and around Mumbai citing rising global energy procurement costs amid geopolitical uncertainties and increasing dependence on expensive fuel sourcesAccording to the company due to geopolitical disruptions affecting the global energy supply chain coupled with increased dependence on expensive gas sources rising crude oil prices and rupee depreciation overall gas procurement costs have risen significantlyIn a statement MGL said it was ldquocompelledrdquo to revise CNG prices by Rs 2 per kg with effect from midnight of May 13morning of May 14 2026 Following the hike the revised delivered price of CNG inclusive of all taxes will be Rs 84 per kg in and around MumbaiOfficial SpeakMGL spokespersonlsquoEven after the above revision MGLrsquos CNG offers attractive savings of about 44 per cent and 7 per cent as compared to petrol and diesel respectively at current price levels in MumbairsquoGround reality checkArea SituationKharghar Sector12 HP pump shut for two daysKharghar Sector14 Long queues due to diverted trafficEastern suburbs Most pumps operationalGoregaon Supply normalNalasoparaAndheri route One temporary disruption reportedMatunga No shortage reportedRajendra B Aklekar