Bhubaneswar: Odisha may face a fuel shortage situation as the indefinite strike by thousands of commercial vehicle drivers continues, severely impacting the transportation of petrol, diesel, and LPG across the state.

According to Sanjay Lath, General Secretary of the Utkal Petroleum Dealers’ Association, petrol and diesel supply to filling stations has been disrupted for the last two days. “No fuel-laden tankers have reached petrol pumps in the past 48 hours. If the situation continues and tankers do not arrive today, the fuel shortage will become visible from tomorrow. Several fuel stations are already running dry,” Lath said.

Fuel depots in Paradip, Balasore, Jatni, and Jharsuguda remain non-operational due to the ongoing strike. If the agitation continues, police may intervene to ensure fuel transportation, he added.

The strike, called by the Odisha Drivers’ Mahasangha, has paralysed public transport and essential supply chains. Drivers of buses, trucks, vans and taxis have joined the ‘quit steering’ protest, demanding key social security measures from the state government.

The association is pressing for a rollback of the state’s decision to grant vehicle-checking powers to police, pension benefits for drivers above 60 years of age, ₹20 lakh insurance cover, and inclusion of auto-rickshaw drivers in the Odisha Motor Transport Drivers and Workers Welfare Board. They are also demanding 70% job reservation for local drivers in mines, quarries and factories, and recognition of September 1 as National Drivers’ Day.