Relief is in sight for vehicle users in Bengaluru with the strike by the association of petrol tanker cleaners and drivers being called off.
Speaking to The Hindu soon after the conclusion of the crucial round of talks with the association, in which officials of the oil companies as well as the State's Home Department are said to have participated, a representative of the Bangalore Petroleum Dealers' Association said supply to petrol bunks would resume in less than two hours.
The strike, which was against the poor condition of the roads leading out of the Devangonthi terminal, and access to basic facilities such as restrooms and drinking water, began on Monday when only around 30 loads of the usual 600 had been supplied. Many of the nearly 600 petrol bunks in the city had run dry by late Monday night, leaving vehicles owners a harrowed lot.
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By Tuesday morning, several petrol bunks had put up barricades as they had run out of stock. Those which were open were supplying only high-end varieties of fuel, which most people do not usually opt for as they are more expensive. However, despite a fuel hike coming into effect on Monday midnight, several people were seen stocking up with the expensive variety without having another alternative. Many vehicle users were even armed with empty bottles to reserve fuel in case there was no breakthrough in the talks.