Pune fuel shortage concerns have emerged during the Diwali festival after the Petrol Dealers Association Pune warned that several HPCL and BPCL retail outlets could run dry because of delayed supplies, payment reconciliation issues and restricted depot operations.
The association said several Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited dealers had been unable to lift petrol and diesel supplies despite making payments through authorised channels, including SBI eDFS and SBI banking portals. According to the association, transaction proofs submitted by dealers had not been reflected in HPCL accounts because of banking or internal reconciliation delays, resulting in product loads being blocked.
The Petrol Dealers Association Pune said dealers should not be penalised for technical or administrative issues beyond their control when payments have already been completed and supporting records are available. It has asked HPCL to verify the transactions and immediately release eligible product loads against the submitted payment proofs.
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited dealers in Pune have also reported delayed and restricted supplies, the association said. It attributed the disruption to early depot closures and inadequate loading arrangements, which have affected the clearance of pending indents. The delays have added pressure on retail outlets at a time when fuel demand is expected to be high during the festival period and consecutive bank and public holidays are approaching.
The association has called for adequate stocks of Motor Spirit and High-Speed Diesel, extended depot operating hours and sufficient loading arrangements at the Pune facilities of both companies. It has also asked the depots to remain operational on Sundays until pending indents are cleared.
Dhruv Ruparel, president of the Petrol Dealers Association Pune, said dealers who had paid through authorised banking channels or deposited funds for product lifting should not bear the consequences of payment delays, internal reconciliation problems or inadequate depot arrangements. He said oil companies needed to maintain uninterrupted supplies during the festival and clear pending indents promptly.
The association has escalated the HPCL payment-related issue to the company’s chairman, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Union minister Murlidhar Mohol. It has urged immediate intervention to release loads supported by verified SBI payment records.
The association said supply interruptions could affect dealers’ businesses and reputations while undermining consumer confidence in fuel availability. The report did not include a response from HPCL or BPCL to the dealers’ concerns. The immediate demands remain verification of pending payments, release of eligible loads and continued depot operations to prevent shortages at Pune’s retail outlets.
