KSRTC buses line up at private petrol bunks for filling ‘cheaper’ diesel

Team Udayavani, Apr 9, 2022, 10:00 AM IST

Sullia: With skyrocketing fuel prices and the cancellation of the central government’s diesel subsidy for the fuel supplied to the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) depots, its buses were seen lining up at private petrol pumps.

In Sullia, KSRTC buses made a beeline to the private petrol stations as the diesel sold there was cheaper than that at its own depot. It is gathered that the situation is similar at Mangaluru, Kundapur, and Udupi depots too.

Prices of diesel are much cheaper at private petrol bunks in the state. Earlier, the diesel at the KSRTC depot was sold at Rs 65 to Rs 70 per liter with the central subsidy. However, since the withdrawal of the subsidy, the price of Diesel has shot up to 107 per liter at the depots. The diesel is available at the private fuel bunkers for around Rs 94. So, it is economical for KSRTC buses to opt to fill fuel at private establishments rather than at their own depots.

According to reports, a similar situation is prevalent in neighboring states of Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. There too,  state road transport buses are now resorting to private petrol bunkers for fuel.