Agartala: Nov 10: On Sunday, Tripura’s Food Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, along with departmental officers, made a surprise visit to several petrol pumps in Agartala to monitor the fuel supply situation. The visit came in response to a disruption in fuel supplies due to extensive damage to the railway track in the Lamding-Badarpur area of Assam, which had halted freight trains carrying fuel to Tripura.
To manage the fuel shortage, the state government implemented a rationing system for petrol starting from Sunday until Wednesday. Under this system, petrol pumps will provide a limited amount of fuel: ₹200 for two-wheelers, ₹400 for passenger vehicles, and up to ₹1000 for larger vehicles.
During his visit, Minister Chowdhury urged petrol pump owners and managers to stay alert to prevent black market activities, especially given the temporary fuel shortage. He warned that any petrol pump found facilitating black market sales would be immediately shut down, with legal action taken. If any petrol pump is found cooperating with black marketeers, the authorities will take strict action, including the closure of the pump. The minister also advised the pump operators to report any such incidents to the Food Department immediately.
Minister Chowdhury assured that the Northeast Railway authorities are working to repair the damaged track and expected fuel supply to return to normal by November 13. The damage to the railway had disrupted the transportation of fuel to the state, leading to the shortage. This situation has caused long queues at petrol pumps across the capital, Agartala, with vehicles, especially at the Baradwali petrol pump, lining up on the roads. Despite the long wait times, there have been reports of fuel being sold at inflated prices in the black market, exacerbating public frustration.
