The price of LPG fuel for autos in Kolkata is following closely on the heels of the American dollar and even worse, the most readily available mode of transport in the city is fast disappearing.
On Thursday, the dollar was at Rs. 93.01 and auto LPG in the city cost Rs. 82.96 per litre.
Long queues at fuel pumps and the prices have forced a section of auto-rickshaw drivers to go off the road, while another is looking towards the unions to hike fares.
In many routes across the city from Sakherbazar, Behala deep in the south-west and Noapara in the northern fringes to Maniktala, Sovabazar in north Kolkata, fares have gone up by Rs. 2 to Rs. 5 over the last few days, forcing daily commuters to think of other means to reach their offices and homes.
“Waiting for a bus is the only option left for me. During the evening I am trying to leave earlier than usual,” said Ayan Chakraborty, an IT professional who commutes daily between Belgharia and Sector V, Salt Lake.
The shortage of LPG comes after the volatile Strait of Hormuz has disrupted the global supply chain for LPG, CNG and other essential fuels.
As of April 2, 2026, auto LPG prices at pumps have risen by Rs 12.28 per litre, reaching a record high of Rs 82.96 per litre in Kolkata. This surge is driven by global supply disruptions, specifically vessel delays at the Strait of Hormuz.
Additionally, commercial 19-kg LPG cylinders have increased by Rs 195.50, while domestic LPG prices currently remain stable.
To add to the woes, Uber Shuttle services will shut down from Thursday night.
Foodblogger and author Debjani Chatterjee has already made alternate arrangements, albeit at a higher price.
“I have booked a new shuttle service where the rates are 30 per cent higher than what I used to pay earlier on Uber shuttle,” she told The Telegraph Online.
Commuters are not the only ones who are changing their modes of transport.
Performing artiste Panchali Kar recently booked a ride on the Rapido app. The rider assigned to her was an auto-rickshaw driver who was forced by the erratic supply of CNG to switch to the app service.
“He had to travel from Dum Dum till somewhere in Beleghata, and stand in the queue from 12 in the morning, only to get CNG at 3pm,” said Kar.
The ‘Coffee Man of Kolkata’, Partho Mukherjee who lives in Parnasree, Behala, says he hasn’t seen a transport system as bad as Kolkata’s.
“Booking a cab daily is impossible. My monthly earnings are spent mostly on commuting. I live near the Parnasree bus stand and I can say with confidence, except for a bus, everything else is available at the bus stop,” said Mukherjee.