LPG stations gear up to meet demand

How many autos in the city run on LPG? One can easily make out the numbers from the demand at LPG gas stations in the city, where autos consume 50-75% of the gas supply.
Ramesh Chandra Ojha, owner of Anderson Auto Service, Alipore, said, "Our current consumption is about 2,000 litres and 50% of it is accounted for by autos plying on the Behala-Hazra route.Normally we don't go dry. However, there are days when the carrier does not reach the station on time. But then, that is only for half a day. If the suppliers support us, we can support the increase in LPG demand."
However, Rai Bareilly Service Centre, Mahabirtala, has already started gearing up to meet the demand. The manager said: "Our current average LPG consumption is 1,400 litres a day and around 30-35 autos come for a refill daily. We are forced to go dry at least once a week when the tanker fails to reach on time. We have requested the BPCL to provide us with another LPG tank. We have enough space for that and inspection for the same is on. But it will take about two to three months to complete construction." This would benefit the autos plying to Taratala and Behala.
The Bypass Service Station on Rashbehari connector, though, is reluctant to increase capacity. "We sell about 1,000 litres a day and around 20-30 autos of Gariahat route refill daily. There is no guarantee that all autos would go LPG. Let that happen then we will decide. We do get dry once a week but that is not much of a problem," said manager Biswanath Das.
The first LPG service station in the city on Prince Anwar Shah Road sells about 2,500-3,000 litres a day and 75% of it is sold to autos. "We have a high demand and so there is a 7000-tonne capacity tanker, apart from our tank, ready at the service station for a refill. This helps us to maintain supply, but whenever there is a fear of scarcity, we inform the auto stands at Gariahat and Jadavpur. This helps us maintain the balance," said maintenance staff B N Kundu.
In the northern part of the city, the consumption is well distributed. G K Thakur, of the Indian Trading Company, Ultadanga, said: "We sell about 1,000-1,100 litres per day and about 15-20 autos from Sovabazar, Ultadanga are our daily customers. There are three more LPG stations in the vicinity. So, even though our tank is small, it is well managed. But we don't know what will happen when all autos go green."