Rajkot: Diesel supply constraints in parts of Gujarat have triggered long queues at fuel stations and disrupted transportation and agricultural activities across Kutch and Saurashtra over the past four days.

Farmers carrying fuel containers and arriving with tractors were seen waiting for hours outside petrol pumps as diesel availability tightened during the peak farming season. The shortage has also affected cargo movement and transport operations, with industry representatives reporting a sharp decline in vehicle movement linked to Kandla and Mundra ports.

“Daily container movement has reduced to around 1,000 from nearly 5,000 due to the non-availability of diesel. Fuel supply usually begins only after noon, and we do not get diesel between 7 am and 12 pm,” said Bhagirathsinh Jadeja, president of the Kandla Mundra Container Transport Welfare Association.

Transporters said daily container movement at the ports has dropped sharply due to delays in diesel supply. Smaller commercial vehicles transporting coal, salt, machinery and liquid cargo have also been affected. Trucks entering urban areas in search of fuel have reportedly led to traffic congestion in several locations.

In Rajkot, transporters said trucks are burning fuel while idling in long queues for limited diesel supplies. Hasubhai Bhagdev, an office-bearer of a truckers’ association, said drivers have become reluctant to take up long-distance assignments. Rajkot district has nearly 5,000 trucks engaged in transporting engineering goods, machine tools, food commodities and industrial materials.

The All India Transporters’ Welfare Association (AITWA) also issued an advisory highlighting diesel supply disruptions in several regions and warned that transport delays could affect operations.

Agricultural activity has also taken a hit, with farmers in several districts reporting long waiting periods at fuel stations. In Amreli, farmers staged protests over the shortage, alleging difficulties in obtaining adequate diesel supplies for farm operations.

Meanwhile, Rajkot District Collector Om Prakash claimed fuel availability remained sufficient, stating that fuel stations currently had 46% diesel stock and 34% petrol stock. He said authorities had received complaints regarding some pumps running dry and had instructed oil marketing companies to take immediate corrective measures.

Oil marketing companies, however, denied any actual shortage and attributed the situation to changing buying patterns. According to Sanjib Behera, diesel demand at public sector fuel stations has surged by nearly 80% compared to last year as bulk consumers shifted from private depots due to steep price differences.

Officials said bulk consumers moved to PSU-operated fuel stations due to higher diesel prices at private depots, increasing pressure on supplies and resulting in temporary stress and long queues.

Some petrol pump operators attributed the issue to oil companies discontinuing fuel supplies on credit. According to them, pumps that had not made advance payments were unable to receive stock, further contributing to supply constraints.

Authorities and oil companies said the situation is expected to normalise within the next few days. DeshGujarat