Kolkata Cabbies Protest CNG Shortage, Block Fuel Station

CNG-powered cab drivers in Kolkata staged a protest on Monday at a fuel station in Beliaghata due to the frequent unavailability of the clean fuel. The demonstration involved more than 30 app cabbies, supported by other commercial vehicle drivers, who blocked the road in front of the fuel station and attempted to obstruct a section of the main thoroughfare. Police intervened and resolved the situation later in the afternoon. The shortage of CNG in Kolkata is attributed to incomplete CNG pipelines, hindering the city’s transition to the cleaner fuel. Currently, Kolkata has approximately 5,000 CNG vehicles, with app cabs constituting a significant portion. There are nine CNG stations in the city, and drivers often resort to traveling to Ankurhati or Kolaghat for fuel, according to Indranil Banerjee, General Secretary of the West Bengal Online Cab Operators Guild.

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