Punjab Roadways buses to buy fuel from private petrol pumps

Till recently, there was no difference in prices of diesel supplied by Indian Oil Corporation at private pumps and those set up at commercial establishments. Punjab Roadways and Pepsu buses had also been buying diesel from different petrol stations set up in their depots across the state.

With about 70 per cent of its routes suffering from loss, Punjab Roadways is incurring an annual loss of nearly Rs 100 crore. The recent diesel price hike of Rs 10.50 per litre for commercial establishments would have led to a loss of another Rs 48 crore per year (Rs 4 crore per month). While for a normal consumer, diesel price now stood at Rs 46.56 after the recent 50 paisa hike, for commercial consumers like state transport undertakings, the figure was Rs 56.66 per litre.

“Punjab Roadways was buying 35 lakh litre diesel per month for its fleet at a cost of Rs 15 crore. Now, with increase of Rs 10.50 per litre, it will have to shell out another Rs 3.50 crore per month,” a senior official said.

Thus, the state-owned PSU has devised a fool-proof method to work the modalities. A few private gas stations have been chosen for supplying diesel to the

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