Several parts of Maharashtra are facing a diesel shortage, leading to long queues outside fuel stations as farmers, transporters, and traders scramble to secure fuel supplies. The situation has triggered panic buying in multiple districts, with Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar witnessing heavy rush at several petrol pumps.
In many areas of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, motorists were seen waiting for hours to refuel their vehicles. “The queues of four-wheelers have been much longer than two-wheeler lines. I visited multiple pumps, but each pump was equally crowded,” said Suhas Kale, a car owner.
Officials said panic buying has worsened the supply situation. Pravin Phular, district supply officer of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, said authorities are coordinating with oil companies to stabilise fuel availability. “The volume of sale of fuel is much higher and taking place very fast. We are in constant touch with three major oil marketing companies (OMCs) to match the demand with supply,” he said.
Amid rising concerns, the Jalna district administration on Wednesday directed fuel stations to reserve 5% diesel stock for emergency services. District Collector Ashima Mittal said the reserved quota would be used for essential services including hospitals and police operations.
“Importantly, people should avoid panic buying because it is creating a supply-demand mismatch. Also , black marketing of fuel will be taken very seriously and people involved in such activities will be punished as per law,” she said.
Meanwhile, AIMIM workers on Thursday distributed Melody chocolates to motorists who managed to get fuel after waiting in long queues in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The symbolic protest was aimed at targeting the government over the ongoing fuel crisis as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has been criticised by opposition parties for gifting Melody toffees to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during his Italy visit amid the fuel shortage concerns back home.
Diesel availability has also emerged as a concern in Kolhapur and Nashik districts. In Kolhapur, petrol was being sold at Rs 108.53 per litre, while diesel was priced at Rs 95.6 per litre. Officials said only a few petrol pumps in the district were shut because of fuel shortage, but demand for diesel had increased sharply after recent price hikes.
“The rates were increased twice in four days. The pre-monsoon field work requires tractors, which run on diesel. Fearing a further hike in fuel rate, there has been a rise in demand from farmers,” said Mohini Chavan from the district supply office.
She further explained that diesel was earlier supplied from a depot near Miraj, but shortage there forced procurement from Pakhani depot in Solapur district. “There was a shortage at the Miraj depot. Therefore, procurement started from Pakhani’s depot in Solapur district. The distance of 250 km increased transportation cost of the diesel,” added Chavan.
The diesel crunch has also affected transport operations in Nashik district, particularly at Lasalgaon, Asia’s largest wholesale onion market. Traders said transportation delays are disrupting supply chains.
“I had booked a truck to transport onions outside the state. It was scheduled to reach Lasalgaon by Wednesday noon, but has not arrived even till Thursday evening due to the diesel shortage. In addition, diesel supply at the few petrol pumps is restricted, creating further difficulties for transporters,” onion trader Manoj Jain said.
According to Tehsin Khan, vice-president of the Nashik Petrol Dealers’ Association, the shortage has impacted a large number of fuel stations across the district. “There is a significant shortage of diesel, with supplies unavailable at over 100 of the 600 petrol pumps across Nashik district. Long queues are seen at pumps where diesel is available and the stock is getting exhausted within five to six hours.”
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