Pune petrol dealers have warned of possible fuel shortages at Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) outlets during the Diwali rush, even as both companies said their supplies remain adequate and operations are continuing normally.
The Petrol Dealers Association Pune (PDAP) issued separate communications on Saturday, citing delayed and restricted supplies, early depot closures and inadequate loading arrangements at BPCL. The association said several retail outlets could run dry if pending fuel loads were not cleared in time, particularly with bank holidays and festive closures approaching.
PDAP president Dhruv Ruparel said dealers who had deposited funds were struggling to obtain fuel and called for BPCL depots in Pune to remain operational on Sundays. The association also sought extended depot timings, uninterrupted loading operations and the clearance of pending indents for motor spirit (MS) and high-speed diesel (HSD).
The BPCL issue centres on the availability and timing of depot operations rather than a stated suspension of fuel supply. A BPCL spokesperson told The Times of India that operations across all locations were normal and that product supplies and dispatches were proceeding without hindrance. The company said it had extended operating hours at its supply location in Haveli because of the seasonal increase in demand.
PDAP separately raised concerns about HPCL blocking product loads for several dealers despite payments being made through the SBI eDFS and SBI banking portals. According to the association, some payments were not reflecting in HPCL’s accounts because of banking or internal reconciliation delays. Dealers had submitted transaction proofs to company officials, it said.
Ruparel asked HPCL to release eligible loads once transaction proofs had been verified. PDAP has escalated the matter to HPCL’s chairperson, the Union ministry of petroleum and natural gas, and Union minister of state Murlidhar Mohol. The association said the issue could inconvenience consumers and affect dealers’ credibility during the festive rush.
HPCL described reports of disruption at its Pune outlets as misleading. In a statement issued on Saturday, the company said its Loni terminal dispatched 1,246 kilolitres of motor spirit and 2,114 kilolitres of high-speed diesel to dealers on November 6. Until noon on November 7, it said, a further 870 kilolitres of motor spirit and 1,360 kilolitres of high-speed diesel had been dispatched.
HPCL also said its outlets across Pune district had approximately 10,200 kilolitres of fuel stock as of noon on November 7, equivalent to nearly four days of sales. The company said its outlets were adequately supplied, there was no cause for panic and it remained committed to ensuring uninterrupted fuel availability.
The competing accounts point to two distinct issues for Pune’s fuel network: dealers’ concerns about the timing and release of specific loads, and the oil companies’ assessment of overall district-level availability. BPCL has cited extended operating hours at Haveli, while HPCL has pointed to dispatch volumes and reported stock levels as evidence that supplies remain secure. PDAP’s request for Sunday depot operations remains focused on clearing pending indents before festive closures and additional demand place further pressure on retail outlets.
