Despite the increasing number of CNG-based vehicles in Udupi district, the availability of CNG stations has not kept pace, causing significant inconvenience for vehicle owners and drivers, particularly auto-rickshaw drivers, who endure long wait times for refuelling.
Currently, there are only four CNG stations in the district, with three located in Udupi city and one in Kundapur. This limited number of stations struggles to meet the demand, resulting in hundreds of auto-rickshaws and other vehicles queuing at the Koteshwara CNG pump as early as 4 am. Vehicle owners often have to wait until 8 or 9 am for their turn, with no guarantee of sufficient supply to fill every vehicle.
While one CNG station is under construction in Karkala, auto-rickshaw drivers in Udupi are advocating for more stations to be opened. The prolonged wait times at existing stations significantly reduce their daily income, as they spend more time waiting than operating their vehicles.
In Dakshina Kannada, although there are CNG stations at various locations, vehicle owners occasionally face shortages of CNG, as the supply is managed by the GAIL gas company.
