Hyderabad’s Auto LPG Crisis Sparks Protests, Brings Traffic to Standstill

What began as routine queues outside LPG filling stations has now spiraled into a full-blown crisis, pushing hundreds of auto-rickshaw drivers onto the streets in protest. On Wednesday, tensions peaked near LB Nagar’s Sagar Ring Road , where frustrated drivers staged a road blockade, crippling traffic and exposing the growing strain on the city’s transport ecosystem.

For days, drivers have been grappling with an acute shortage of auto LPG , spending hours in queues only to return empty-handed. The situation reached a breaking point when many, unable to secure fuel even after an entire day of waiting, decided to halt operations and demand urgent intervention. By parking their autos across a key arterial road, they brought vehicular movement to a near standstill, leaving commuters stranded in long traffic snarls.

Behind the protest lies a deeper supply-demand imbalance. Telangana is currently facing a significant shortfall in auto LPG supply , with demand far outstripping availability. A large section of the city’s nearly one lakh LPG-run autos has been directly impacted, disrupting not only drivers’ incomes but also the daily commute of thousands who rely on them for last-mile connectivity.

Drivers say the crisis is not just about inconvenience it is about survival. With no fuel, there are no trips, and without trips, there is no income. Many allege that irregular supplies, dry filling stations, and the temporary closure of private outlets have worsened the situation, forcing them to travel across the city in search of fuel.

Authorities, however, present a different picture, maintaining that there is no absolute shortage but rather distribution inefficiencies and logistical bottlenecks . Industry observers point to a mix of factors, including delayed shipments, dependence on private suppliers, and external geopolitical pressures affecting fuel flows , as contributors to the current crunch.

Police eventually intervened at the protest site, engaging with drivers and working to ease traffic congestion after hours of disruption. But the unrest signals a larger problem brewing beneath the surface.

With no immediate resolution in sight, drivers have issued a clear warning: if supplies are not stabilised soon, protests could intensify, potentially leading to wider disruptions across Hyderabad. For a city that depends heavily on autos for everyday mobility, the ongoing LPG crisis is fast becoming more than just a fuel issue it is turning into a public transport challenge with economic consequences .