Auto drivers across Kolkata are spending entire nights queuing at petrol pumps to fill LPG, severely affecting daily operations. Many drivers are unable to run their autos during the day, as hours-long queues stretch into morning and even evening. As a result, auto availability at stands has dropped, while passenger queues continue to grow. The situation is especially difficult during office hours and late at night. This crisis is being reported across the city, from Baranagar in the north to Baruipur in the south-and is linked to fuel supply disruptions amid the ongoing West Asia conflict.
Auto LPG prices have also risen twice in the past one-and-a-half to two weeks, worsening the situation. On top of that, several pumps are running out of LPG. A typical auto tank holds 20 kg, though drivers usually fill around 12–15 kg. Depending on the route, one kilogram of gas allows travel of about 5.5 to 6 kilometres, meaning a full refill lasts roughly two to two-and-a-half days of continuous driving.
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Drivers say the struggle to get fuel is exhausting. Shubhajit Sarkar, who operates on the Jadavpur–Ranikuthi route, said he queued from 8 pm at a pump near South City Mall and returned home only at 3:30 am after finally refuelling. Similarly, Ganesh Mandal, who drives on the Thakurpukur–Taratala route, said he joined a queue around 8 pm and managed to fill gas only by 5 am the next morning.
Such experiences are now common across areas from Kashipur to Garia and Kasba to Joka, with drivers often waiting 10–12 hours for fuel. In some areas like Sinthi More, LPG is unavailable at nearby pumps, forcing drivers to travel as far as Srirampur in Hooghly or Manicktala in Kolkata. This increases both time and cost, leading to fewer autos on roads and, in some cases, higher fares.
Passengers, meanwhile, are facing multiple issues. Apart from long waits due to fewer autos, there are complaints of drivers charging higher fares and refusing to travel to certain destinations after 8 pm. Many are breaking routes and operating on shorter stretches, forcing passengers to change autos multiple times. As a result, a journey that typically costs ₹15 can now go up to ₹28–30, adding to commuter frustration.
