Petrol pump owners threaten to shut outlets on Sundays from May. Here’s why

Riled over low margins, petrol pump owners are planning to shut their outlets on Sundays from May onwards and also operate only from 9am to 6pm to cut costs.

They have threatened to call a “no purchase petrol and diesel day” on May 10 and subsequently shut outlets every Sunday. The weekly Sunday off will start from May 14.

They are demanding higher margin by the government.

The petrol dealers association said the 'No Purchase Day' is aimed at telling state-run oil marketing companies that they are opting for 'war path'.

They had earlier withdrawn a strike in January after the OMCs promised dealers to revise commission. They said the agitation would continue till the business becomes viable and higher margins are announced. The decision was taken at a meeting of the consortium of Indian Petroleum Dealers, which has 53,000 members.

"The decision would be applicable after May 10 unless the government intervenes. The resolution has been taken as the oil companies have not released the dealer margins since 2011," said Ravi Shinde from the Petrol Dealers' Association.

Currently, many outlets function between 6 am and 10 pm while some are open round the clock and seven days a week.