The Tripura government has imposed restrictions on selling petrol and diesel from Wednesday because of a fuel supply crunch caused by disrupted train movement to the state. The constraints have arisen due to the suspension of goods train operations between Tripura and the rest of the country following a significant derailment incident last month.
According to Nirmal Adhikari, additional secretary of the state’s food, civil supplies, and consumer affairs department, the restricted movement of trains, including goods carriers, necessitated rationing measures to effectively manage the available fuel stock.
The disruption traces back to April 25, when a goods train engine derailed between Assam’s Jatinga Lampur and New Harangajao station under the Lumding division due to a massive landslide. This incident has severely impacted train movements, leading to fuel shortages in Tripura, which relies heavily on rail-based supply chains.
The state government has set limits on fuel distribution for different vehicle categories to address the crisis. Per the order issued by the food and civil supplies department, two-wheelers and three-wheelers will be allowed to purchase petrol worth Rs.200 per day, while four-wheelers can buy up to Rs.500 worth of gasoline daily.
The restrictions are even tighter for public transportation, with buses allowing only Rs.60 litres of diesel per day and minibuses limited to Rs.40 litres per day.
Sabyasachi De, the chief public relations officer of Northeast Frontier Railways, acknowledged the severity of the situation, stating that the railway tracks were severely affected by landslides. He added that railway officials, men, and machinery are already at the site, working tirelessly to restore train operations as quickly as possible.
De further clarified that several trains had been cancelled, partially cancelled, or rescheduled due to the derailment, exacerbating the supply chain disruption and contributing to the fuel shortage in Tripura.
As the state grapples with the fuel crisis, the rationing measures will remain in place until the rail link is fully restored and normal supply channels are re-established. The incident underscores the importance of robust transportation infrastructure and contingency plans to mitigate the impact of such disruptions on essential supplies like fuel.
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