Rajkot: On Monday morning, the news channels across Gujarat covered closure of a few petrol pumps in Rajkot, which triggered statewide panic of shortage of petrol and diesel and resulted into long queues. A few petrol pumps were found shut in other cities too, which further sparked panic. As rumors spread, the people also rushed to purchase food items in bulk for storage, fearing that oil shortage may trigger food shortage due to disruption in transport.

Meanwhile the President of the Petrol Pump Dealers Association in Rajkot, speaking about “dry outs” at several fuel stations in the city, clarified that it was a result of logistical and banking delays rather than a genuine supply shortage.

According to him, the primary reason some pumps ran out of stock was the Saturday-Sunday weekend, during which many dealers were unable to process payments to oil companies. This led to a backlog where orders could not be placed or fulfilled in time. He further noted a significant shift in industry practice: where dealers previously operated on credit—receiving fuel in the morning and paying in the evening—the system has now moved toward mandatory advance payments, complicating the procurement process for some.

The President highlighted that the current delays are also tied to a massive spike in demand that has overwhelmed delivery capacities.

• Order Volume: In some instances, orders for 70 trucks were placed when the daily fulfillment capacity was only 35 trucks.
• Transportation: A shortage of rental trucks has hindered the movement of fuel, though dealers who own their own transport vehicles have faced fewer disruptions.

Regarding the situation in Saurashtra, which houses approximately 1,000 petrol pumps, the Association President insisted that there is no absolute shortage. While there have been reports of some pumps closing in Rajkot, he emphasized that the closure ratio remains very low and is being addressed through ongoing discussions with higher authorities.

The President noted that while some pumps receive fuel daily, others are waiting two days, creating an inconsistent flow. He reassured the public that there is no reason for panic, as the current “dry outs” are temporary logistical issues that are being actively resolved through dialogue with oil company officials. DeshGujarat