Bhubaneswar: The fuel rush across the city following fears of a possible petrol and diesel short supply is beginning to bite the most vulnerable sections first, including commercial drivers, delivery workers and small business owners who depend on daily mobility for their livelihoods.With long queues outside filling stations and several pumps running dry early, many cab drivers, auto operators and delivery agents said they are losing both time and income. “I spent nearly an hour in line just to get fuel. That is one less trip and one less earning for the day,” said Deepak Ojha, a cab driver waiting at a fuel station in Nayapalli.For auto-rickshaw and taxi operators, even a marginal increase in fuel prices can significantly erode daily earnings. “Our income hasn’t increased, but fuel costs keep rising. If this continues, we will have no option but to increase fares, which passengers don’t like,” said Gyana Ranjan Naik, an auto driver.Delivery workers, already under pressure to meet tight timelines, said the situation is affecting service efficiency. “We have fixed targets every day. If we are stuck in queues and now when the fuel becomes costlier, it becomes difficult to manage both time and the expenses,” said Jitendra Sahoo, a food delivery executive.Small business owners are also feeling the pinch. Many said higher fuel costs are likely to inflate logistics expenses. “We depend on daily supplies. If fuel prices increase, transport charges will go up and we may have to pass that burden on to customers,” said Prakash Puhan, a grocery-cum-vegetable shop owner in Bomikhal.Experts said the combined impact on these groups could have a lasting effect on the local economy, pushing up prices of essential goods and services. “Any disruption or rise in fuel costs directly affects informal and semi-formal sectors first, as they operate on tight margins,” said Nibedita Jena, a retired economics professor.While authorities have assured that there is no immediate shortage of fuel, the ongoing uncertainty has impacted the vulnerable sections the most. “I am seriously thinking of switching to an electric vehicle. At least it will give some stability in the long run,” said Ritesh Bhoi, a service delivery boy in Rasulgarh.
