Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations of the city are seen crowded after government’s announcement to keep them open for six hours a day throughout the week in Punjab.
Motorists on Wednesday spent several hours even night in long queues on roads outside the filling stations, which open from 10am to 4pm to provide gas.
It was the second consecutive day when motorists started getting the cheaper fuel after the decision to provide the facility without any holiday.
Hundreds of vehicles were lined-up at CNG outlets near Fauji Foundation Hospital, Saddar and Murree and Adiala roads stretching over more than one kilometre along the roads, affecting smooth flow of traffic.
Majority of them were public transport vehicles which succeeded in getting filled their cylinders and come on their respective routes and charged exorbitant fares from the commuters.
There were mixed views about the recent formula as some motorists criticised it saying that six-hour period is not only insufficient but also uncomfortable for them to get CNG, keeping in view the working hours.
The worst sufferers are the office-goers, who are unable to get the fuel at any hour of the day except Saturday and Sunday.
Some were happy to see the CNG stations functioning throughout the week without any holiday, citing that everyone should have choice whether he wants CNG or petrol at the cost of “time or money”.
A motorist, Babar Hussain, standing in a queue at Chur Chowk expressed his anger over mismanagement on part of CNG stations for filling the cylinders in an ill-organised manner. He alleged that some staff violated the queue to mint extra money from selected customers and public transport, which caused rush at the stations.
Another motorist, Amir Khan, filling petrol in his vehicle near district courts said nowadays time is money and he could not afford several hours to line-up for getting a cheap fuel.
