Employees of a CNG refuelling station turn away a car trying to enter the station at Maghbazar in the city after 6:00pm on Sunday, as a government decision to keep the filling stations shut from 6:00pm to 10:00pm daily came into force on the day — FE photo by KAZ Sumon The government's decision on closure of CNG refuelling stations for four hours came into force on Sunday, causing sufferings to vehicle users.
The government announced to keep gas supply to the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) filling stations across the country shut between 6:00 pm and 10:00 pm from September 19 to ensure uninterrupted gas supply to power plants.
Initially the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources announced to keep the supply off for six hours. But, later it changed the decision, cutting the time by two hours amid protest of CNG station owners and CNG-run vehicle drivers.
The ministry adopted the measure to reduce pressure on gas distribution network during the peak hours of electricity demand to help generate electricity from the gas-fired power plants.
Meanwhile, due to the suspension, the CNG stations were seen facing tremendous pressure of gas-run vehicles, and long queues developed before the suspension hour began on Sunday.
On the other hand, queues were also seen in petrol and octane filling stations.
Talking to the FE, Anwar Hossain, cashier of Energy Plus CNG Filling Station at Purana Paltan, said many drivers with CNG-run vehicles came to the station after 6:00 pm, as they did not know about the government's decision on gas supply suspension. But they were refused to give fuel in order to abide by the decision.
He said they expect to get more pressure from Monday afternoon, as the vehicle drivers would try to refuel before the closure.
In a day, the filling station gets more than 600 vehicles to refuel with no time suspension.
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