AGARTALA, March 24 (TIWN): The State has been facing bouts of fuel shortage. That’s the standard answer if you ask for fuel — especially diesel & Petrol— at most of the refueling stations (petrol pumps) across Tripura. Tripura government in its D.O letter to the union government asked to fuel from Kolkata via Bangladesh route to avoid fuel crisis in the state. The fuel and other petroleum products are transported from Haldia port of West Bengal to Tripura via Assam-Agartala national highway and distance covered is 2,376 kms. However, travelling through neighbouring Bangladesh would reduce the distance to 600 kms.

Throughout the State there is no petrol & diesel. Admitting to the problem, Indian Oil sources placed the blame on a temporary rail conversion , which forces fuel suppliers to depend on road transport from Assam.

Due to the poor condition of NH-33, it takes nearly 20 hours to cover the 600-km stretch. To add to the trouble, pump owners said, most of the road tankers are owned by Assam-based operators, who are busy meeting the high demand there. That there is a severe fuel crisis in Tripura is evident, though it hasn’t been quantified.

Oil officials said a fraction of pumps out of 57 had run out of fuel. But eyewitness accounts tell a different story. Tripura is facing fuel crisis for last few months due to the pathetic condition of Assam-Agartala national highway and the state is facing acute shortage of essential commodities.  Meanwhile, Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy visited Tripura-Assam border on Monday to review the condition of national highway (NH) 44. Seeing the deteriorating condition of the highway, the governor expressed his displeasure and criticised the Assam government for not taking proper action on repairing it