Bengaluru motorists protest as Bellary Road outlet restricts regular petrol

On Sunday, motorists in Bengaluru staged protests at the Vrishabhadri Enterprises HP petrol outlet on Bellary Road near Cauvery Theatre after the station restricted the availability of regular petrol, forcing customers to purchase more expensive premium fuel. Similar practices of withholding regular stock were reported at approximately 200 fuel stations across the city, sparking widespread anger among commuters.

The Vrishabhadri Enterprises outlet, which is strategically located on the route to the airport, reportedly had no regular petrol available. This forced drivers to shell out nearly Rs 10 extra per litre for the premium "Power Petrol" variant. Currently, regular petrol in Bengaluru retails at around Rs 111 per litre, while premium petrol costs around Rs 121 per litre.

The shortage of regular petrol led to heated exchanges, with station attendants bearing the brunt of motorists' anger when customers realized they had no choice but to pay for the higher-priced fuel.

BR Ravindranath, the former president of the Karnataka Petroleum Dealers Association, confirmed he had received multiple complaints regarding these practices from both motorists and dealers.

According to industry sources, some dealers are being pressured by oil companies to push premium fuel by withholding regular petrol. One anonymous dealer explained that they are forced to push the premium stock through their station attendants.

Consumer activist Ravindranath Guru of the Consumer Care Society criticized the fuel stations, calling the practice an injustice to the common man who is already dealing with high fuel prices. Guru urged authorities to review the fuel supply policy so that premium products are only available to those who want them, rather than being imposed on every customer.

In response to the complaints, Palani Kumar, the state-level coordinator for oil companies, stated that Indian Oil Corporation has issued strict instructions that no customer should be forced to purchase premium fuel. Kumar promised to speak with the concerned parties immediately to address the situation.