MUMBAI: You may come across a long queue of motorists at petrol pumps today. This is because the 246 petrol pumps in the city (and 3,300 across Maharashtra) have decided to operate only a single shift— 9am to5 pm from Monday onwards. The move comes at the behest of the Petrol Dealers Association to highlight their demand for an increase in dealership commissions.

The one-shift operation will not affect the supply of CNG and will only apply to petrol and diesel. This means that public transport like autos, taxis and buses will not be affected.

If you go to the pump early morning or after 5 pm, there are chances you will be turned away.

Said Ravi Shinde of PDA, “We will be running single shift operation (9 to 5) from Monday. Having exhausted all avenues of communication with our oil companies—to highlight the erosion of petrol dealers’ margin with every increase in price of petrol and diesel—we have been left with no option.” He said the purpose of the curtailed hours was to cut costs.

“The petrol pumps in Mumbai will operate with full efficiency during working hours. Motorists are advised to plan their purchase to avoid any inconvenience,” said Shinde. However, he added that emergency vehicles like ambulances would not be affected as they will be given petrol round-the-clock as an exception.”

Sources said that there could be long queues and arguments at most petrol pumps. Owners will also find it difficult shutting down the pumps exactly at 5pm. “This is uncalled for. If I have to travel a long distance in an emergency and want to fill up the fuel tank of my car in the evening, I will not get petrol. It will be a severe crisis for motorists,” said Ajay Arora, a car owner.

The city has nearly than eight lakh cars and SUVs, one lakh autos and 45,000 taxis. The association has also written to joint police commissioner (law and order) Sadanand Date to provide police protection to the pumps. In the letter, Shinde stated, “Petrol pumps have now decided to reduce working time to 8 hours to cut costs on manpower and electricity. But we anticipate law and order problems during closing hours and request you to instruct local police stations to provide assistance to petrol pumps in their area, particularly at the time of closing.”

Shinde added that he has asked all petrol pump owners to write individual letters to the local police stations.