IMPHAL, Nov 24: Transportation of fuel by tanker trucks from outside the State to Malom depot would cease once construction of Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal railway line is constructed and railway service is introduced on the same line.
At present, around 700 tanker trucks are engaged in transportation of fuel from outside the State to Malom depot and distribution of fuel from the depot to different retail outlets.
These 700 TTs or so are divided into two groups; namely independent transporters and RO/dealer transporters, informed a source.
RO/dealer transporters are engaged in transportation of fuel to Malom depot from outside the State as well as distribution of fuel to their oil pumps from Malom depot.
If railway service is introduced on Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal route, fuel would be brought by train up to Malom depot. By that time, all the TTs engaged in transportation of fuel would be put out of the same service except those TTs engaged in distribution of fuel to ROs from the depot, said the source.
Meanwhile, the existing contract between IOC and transporters engaged in transportation of fuel to Malom depot from outside the State expires on November 30.
Tender notice for fresh engagement of transporters was issued on November 10. However, as the tender process would take some time, the existing contract has been extended by three months, informed the source.
According to the open tender notice issued on November 10, all interested individuals/firms can apply.
Guwahati based IO, AOD State Office DGM (Operation) BK Sharma and Senior Chief Manager CS Chakraborty came to Imphal today and gave a detailed account of the tender notice to CAF&PD Minister Karam Shyam.
The two IOC officials gave a copy of an MoU they signed with transporters to Karam Shyam and they categorically told him that the notice issued on November 10 is for a type of tender which is in vogue throughout the country.
They told the Minister that there would be little requirement of TTs once railway service is introduced on Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal route by 2020.
On the other hand, empty oil tankers which should leave Imphal at 1 pm today with CRPF escorts did not move due to prohibition by the All Manipur Petroleum Products Transporters Association.
According to a key functionary of the All Manipur Petroleum Products Transporters Association, a meeting held yesterday with Senior Depot Manager of Malom oil depot, members of the association and All Manipur IOCL RO Dealers’ Association agreed that no TTs will leave Imphal to transport fuel till November 27.
In accordance to this agreement, TTs were prohibited from leaving Imphal, he said.
The Senior Depot Manager informed that there are enough stocks of petrol and diesel for over one month even though transporters are not transporting fuel at the moment.
Source: The Sangai Express
