Kolkata: Commuters hoping for some financial breathing room were left disappointed on Wednesday. Despite a welcome Rs 7 per litre drop in auto LPG prices effective July 1, transport unions have confirmed that auto fares will hold steady.The sharp price reduction comes on the heels of easing geopolitical tensions and a resolution of the shipping crisis at the Strait of Hormuz, which immediately stabilised global energy markets. However, local auto operators claim the price cut is simply “too little, too late,” as they are still reeling from a brutal, months-long cycle of fuel hikes that severely eroded their daily earnings.For the city’s three-wheeled lifelines, the Rs 7 drop is a drop in the ocean compared to the financial damage sustained during the spring. Auto-LPG prices climbed relentlessly through April and May, forcing drivers to absorb the shock to keep their passenger base.“We have bled profusely over the last four months,” said Rajesh Mandal, an auto operator running on Behala-Rashbehari route. “From January to May, the price per litre shot up by nearly Rs 38. A seven-rupee reduction doesn’t magically erase the debt we took on just to keep our vehicles running. We cannot lower fares right now; we are just trying to survive.”Unions argue that because they did not officially raise fares to match the peak price of Rs 89.4 per litre in May, there is no economic justification to lower them now that the price has corrected to Rs 82.4.At the city’s fueling stations, managers noticed an immediate, albeit cautious, shift in buying behaviour on Wednesday morning, though they agree the market remains fragile.“We saw a noticeable dip in sales volume over April and May because drivers were rationing their trips or simply sitting idle,” explained Manoj Khurana, a manager at a prominent fuel dispensing station in the commercial district. “Today, lines are a bit longer because of the Rs 7 drop, but the drivers are still incredibly stressed. They keep asking us if this price drop is permanent or just a temporary pause before another spike.”For everyday passengers, the gridlock over fares is a frustratingly familiar story. While they understand the drivers’ plight, many feel the system is inherently unfair to the common citizen.“It feels like a one-way street,” said Sunita Rao, a bank employee who relies on autos for her daily commute. “Whenever fuel prices go up, drivers immediately demand extra money or shorten the routes. But when global prices drop, the benefit never trickles down to us. Rs 7 is a significant cut—some of that relief should be passed on to the public.”As the city adjusts to the post-crisis energy landscape, the standoff highlights the deep economic scars left by the brief global supply crunch. For now, commuters will have to keep digging just as deep into their pockets.
