Pumped Down
As more petrol pumps give way to highrises and coffee shops, an alarmed government orders BMC to take action……..Sudhir Suryawanshi
As more petrol pumps give way to highrises and coffee shops, an alarmed government orders BMC to take action……..Sudhir Suryawanshi
With seven petrol pumps giving way to residential and commercial buildings in two years and 90 more slotted to go the same way, a worried government has issued orders to the BMC prohibiting the conversion of petrol pump land for other uses.
According to the Petrol Dealers Association (PDA), seven petrol pumps have closed down in the last two years. The pumps are in Vile Parle, Nariman Point, near Sena Bhavan, Pedder Road, Jogeshwari and Panvel. Though this number is not very large considering that there are around 250 such pumps in the city, what has raised alarms is the fact that at least 40 more pumps could close down in the next two years with a loss of another 90 in the next five years. This decline coincides with the relentless increase in the number of vehicles in the city. It is estimated that every day, between 250 and 300 four- and two-wheelers are added to the city’s roads.
Alarmed by this trend, the State Government instructed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) not to consider requests from land owners to close down petrol pumps so that the land can be used for constructing commercial and residential buildings. The government has asked the municipal corporation to ensure that the land is not used for any other purpose. The urban development department had passed directives to this effect last month.
Pulen Shah, who runs Highway Auto Mobile at Ghatkopar said that though he has been running the petrol pump from 1960, the owners of the land want him to vacate the place. “Fuel stations are an essential part of the city’s infrastructure and government should ensure that petrol pump land is used only for this purpose,” said Shah who added that he expected many more petrol pumps in south Mumbai to close down in the next few years, forcing motorists to travel to Central Mumbai to buy fuel.
“While motorists from the city will have to go to the suburbs to buy fuel, suburban residents will have to Thane and Panvel soon to buy petrol. The situation is turning from bad to worse and motorists will suffer. The government has asked taxi association to use CNG instead of diesel. If CNG pumps close down, where will taxi operators go?” said Shah.
A senior Mantralaya official, requesting anonymity, said that directives have been issued to BMC to not allow change of user in case of petrol, diesel and CNG pumps. “Most of the city’s petrol pumps are situated on land leased by fuel
dealers from the land owner. Land prices have gone up and many owners want to take back their land so that they can redevelop it. If this goes on, there will be few fuelling stations in the city and citizens will have major problem refuelling their vehicles. We have taken a decision to stop conversion of petrol pumps,” said the official.
Ramesh Shinde, president of PDA welcomed the decision. “The civic body should implement this rule strictly. Land owners are asking petrol pump operators for higher rent from petrol pump operators who are in no position to meet the demands. Most land owners have already issued eviction notices to dealers and in many cases, disputes are pending in courts,” Shinde pointed out.
Jilani Motorwala who runs a petrol pump near Arthur Road said land owners find coffee chains more lucrative than fuel stations. “It is very difficult to run petrol pumps with minimum profit. After some days, there will be petrol, but no pumps to sell the petrol,” said Jilani.
Chetan Modi, secretary, PDA, predicted, “The builder lobby will go to court and delay the procedure. More than 40 petrol pump owners have approached us to complain that land owners want them to vacate the premises. The government should have taken this decision to stop sale of petrol pump land earlier.”