A severe LPG crisis has brought public transport to a standstill in West Bengal, with auto-rickshaw drivers facing long queues and sudden price hikes. Drivers allege that some petrol pumps are charging an extra ₹5 to ₹6 per unit, pushing the price from ₹57.68 to ₹62.68 without official notice.

Unable to raise fares, drivers are struggling to feed their families. “I turned to driving an auto due to unemployment, but now this crisis is draining my entire income,” said one frustrated driver. The situation is dire in districts ranging from Bankura and Siliguri to Purulia and Medinipur. While Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has held emergency meetings regarding the crisis, the question remains: who is authorizing these unauthorized price hikes at petrol pumps? The drivers are now demanding immediate government intervention to curb this exploitation before the transport sector collapses completely.