Due to a severe disruption in the supply chain, the state of Tripura has imposed a petrol rationing system, effective from Sunday, in an effort to manage the ongoing fuel shortage. The disruption follows a recent derailment of a goods train on the Badarpur-Lumding route, which has severely impacted fuel and essential commodity supplies across northeastern states.
Announcing the new rationing measure, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs, Sushanta Chowdhury, stated that the system was necessary due to a sharp decline in petrol stock at the Dharmanagar Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) depot and other petrol stations across Tripura. Chowdhury urged the public to adhere to the rationing plan, expressing hope for normalcy once the fuel supply stabilizes. In a video address, he requested citizens’ patience and cooperation, highlighting that these steps are temporary but critical given the situation.
The rationing measures specify daily limits for fuel purchase: two-wheelers can receive petrol worth Rs. 200, three-wheelers are allotted Rs. 400, and four-wheelers are allowed Rs. 1,000 worth of petrol. This allocation system will be implemented until the fuel supply resumes regularity. Authorities are hopeful this will prevent hoarding and manage limited resources effectively during the crisis.
The recent train derailment that triggered this crisis occurred on October 31, when a goods train transporting food grains from northern India to Silchar derailed in the Mupa tunnel section within the Lumding-Badarpur Hill area of Dima Hasao district, Southern Assam. The derailment damaged critical railway infrastructure, significantly delaying supplies of essentials, including food grains, transport fuel, and other necessary commodities, to states such as Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram, and southern Assam. The damage to the railway track forced a halt to all train operations on the route from October 31 to November 2, affecting over a dozen scheduled trains, which were either canceled or rescheduled.
Partial repairs on the damaged railway track enabled limited train movement to resume on November 3, but fully loaded freight and normal train services are yet to restart. An official from the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) stated that repair work is underway, with completion expected by the middle of next week. Normal train services will resume once repairs are complete, helping restore the supply chain.
This particular railway section, the Lumding-Badarpur Hill line, is the only route connecting the northeastern states of Manipur, Mizoram, southern Assam, and Tripura with the rest of the country through Guwahati. The disruption has caused ripple effects, impacting essential supplies and local economies. Earlier last month, train services were similarly interrupted on October 17 and 18 due to the derailment of the Agartala-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express, which involved six coaches, an engine, and a power car on the same hill section. These repeated interruptions highlight the vulnerability of this vital link to adverse weather conditions and landslides, particularly during the monsoon season from June to September.
While the state government is managing this supply crisis through rationing, officials are hopeful that the swift repairs and restoration of the Lumding-Badarpur line will help alleviate the immediate challenges faced by residents in the northeast. The government remains committed to coordinating with railway authorities to expedite repairs and prevent further disruptions in the region’s critical supply chain.
