Gig workers warn LPG, CNG shortage may hit Ola, Uber, Rapido rides

Drivers linked to Ola, Uber and Rapido warn LPG and CNG shortages could hurt earnings as long queues at fuel stations and rising costs threaten ride availability

Gig workers associated with ride-hailing companies are expressing concern over a shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel due to effective halt in shipments through the Strait of Hormuz amid the West Asia conflict, warning it could severely impact their livelihoods. 

 

Shaik Salauddin, who represents the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers’ Union, and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers, said that thousands of drivers working with ride-hailing firms such as Ola, Uber, and Rapido depend on low-cost fuels to operate their vehicles. He added that the shortage is leading to long queues at fuel stations and income loss. 

 

“The gig and platform economy ecosystem is highly sensitive to fuel availability… Thousands of drivers operating LPG and CNG vehicles through app-based platforms such as Ola, Uber, and Rapido depend on uninterrupted access to affordable fuel to earn their daily livelihood. Any disruption in supply could lead to long queues at fuel stations, fewer trips, and immediate income loss for drivers who are already struggling with rising operational costs,” Salauddin added. 

 

Vikas, a driver based in Prayagraj district of Uttar Pradesh, said the situation is already worsening as some petrol pumps in the city ran out of fuel, forcing them to wait in long queues at other pumps that were still supplying fuel. 

 

“Even if the drivers face such issues, the prices for customers on ride-hailing platforms remain the same, which means the riders are bearing the brunt of higher fuel cost. At pumps, the CNG queues are extending up to a kilometre or more,” Vikas added. 

 

Another gig worker, Sathish Kumar, who runs an LPG auto in Hyderabad, Telangana said that the LPG prices have increased from ₹65.70 per kg to ₹92.97 per kg in just a matter of days. He added that earlier LPG refilling took only 5-10 minutes, but now drivers have to wait in queues for up to 2-2.5 hours. “It feels like we are offering free services to aggregators and customers. The prices of LPG have gone up and on top of that we are spending a lot more time in queues. So, we are unable to take up enough number of rides to compensate for the increased fuel cost,” Kumar said. 

 

Gig workers and unions warned that unless fuel availability stabilises or platform fares increase, drivers across the country will struggle to operate.

 

Meanwhile, ride-hailing and mobility companies are also bracing for potential disruptions. 

 

“There is a concern as it is a full-fledged conflict, which is escalating. India’s ride-hailing and mobility sector faces real risks from fuel supply disruptions due to the West Asia conflict,” said an industry executive. “We are looking at how the government intervenes and then would form our strategy accordingly.”

 

Escalating tensions in West Asia involving Iran, Israel and the US are threatening shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy chokepoint through which roughly half of India’s crude imports and most of its LPG imports transit, analysts said.

 

“Rapido is closely monitoring the situation and remains in regular touch with its captain community across cities. Based on current trends, we are not seeing any significant disruption to auto/cab supply on the platform despite reports of an LPG/CNG shortage,” said a Rapido spokesperson. “Our operations continue as usual, and we are staying closely engaged with our captains while monitoring developments on the ground. Should the situation evolve, we will adopt appropriate support measures to ensure minimal disruption for both captains and customers.”

 

A spokesperson from Moving Tech, which operates the Namma Yatri platform, said: “So far, we haven’t received any concerns from driver partners. However, we remain closely engaged with the driver community and continuously work with them to address any issues that may arise.”

 

“If we do receive feedback or complaints, we will ensure that they are resolved promptly and provide necessary support. At this stage, we have also not observed any impact on pricing,” the spokesperson added. 

Key concerns

• LPG prices for auto drivers in Hyderabad rose sharply from ₹65.70/kg to ₹92.97/kg within days
• 2-2.5 hours’ waiting time reported by drivers at LPG and CNG stations for refuelling
• Up to 1 km queues reported at some CNG pumps in cities such as Prayagraj in UP