Bhubaneswar, July 16: Petrol pumps across Odisha will remain closed from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Wednesday in response to a statewide bandh called by the Congress and seven other Opposition parties. The bandh has been called to protest the recent death of a student, Soumyashree, from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore.
The Odisha Petrol Dealers’ Association announced the 12-hour closure as a precautionary measure, citing safety concerns. The decision was taken after consultations with government officials, who, according to the association, were unable to provide adequate security assurances.
“All petrol pumps across the state will remain shut from 6 AM to 6 PM as a unanimous decision of the association. We regret the inconvenience this may cause to the public,” said Sasanka Shekhar Sahu, State President of the Petrol Dealers’ Association.
He further added, “If the government can ensure safety, we are willing to keep operations running. However, in the absence of such assurances, we have no option but to suspend services statewide.”
The shutdown is expected to impact more than 3,000 fuel stations and three major depots, potentially resulting in losses exceeding ₹100 crore for the petroleum sector in Odisha.
