Visakhapatnam: Many times, people drive into petrol bunks in the city only to be told that regular petrol is not available but expensive branded petrol is in plenty.
The branded petrol available in the market includes Speed from BPCL, Premium from IOC, Power from HPCL and Josh from IBP while the diesel brands include IOC’s Super, HPCL’s Turbo and IBP’s Shakti.
During a ground reality check by this correspondent, some customers at the petrol bunks alleged that the dealers were leaving them with no choice but to go for branded ones forcing them to pay Rs 2-3 more per litre.
On the pretext of running out of stock of normal petrol, they are pushing their branded ones for additional margin.
“There is rush at every oil filling station. Hence, even when the petrol filling station staffers are saying that they don’t have normal petrol. I would not prefer to go to another bunk. It is also not possible to do so while you are in hurry and going to office. I cannot understand how they can ensure stock of branded one but not the normal one,” said M. Rajesh, a bank employee.
“I am experiencing this petrol bunks pushing branded petrol for the last two months. Most of the time, I find, they are running out of normal one. We are ending up paying extra money due to this” said K. Ravi, a government employee.
Some youngsters however are eager to fill their bike tanks with the branded one.
Requesting anonymity, a petrol bunk owner said, “Selling branded petrol was optional, but now the oil companies are giving us a target and hence we are trying to push it though not always. We get only 20-30 paisa more margin on branded ones compared to normal, but it is a good profit equation for oil companies.”
“The branded one is not only good for the environment, but also to the bike engine. The oil companies are also promoting the branded ones to check pollution,” he added.
According to sources, Vizag tops the list in the south central zone with regards to sales of branded petrol.
Mr Bhaskar, who runs a petrol bunk on the Beach Road near Lawsons Bay Colony, however brushed aside the allegations.
"We are not pushing the branded petrol. We are first telling the people about the benefits of it and if they agree to it, we go ahead. The youngsters are now always opting for branded ones as they have felt the difference. We are also holding awareness campaigns to make people understand the benefits of the branded petrol on the environment and engine. There is no such pressure on us from our oil company to push branded ones."
