Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) is actively considering a proposal to set up its own fuel station and garage facility to streamline operations and reduce costs by eliminating dependency on private service providers.
The move is aimed at ensuring efficient management of its fleet of over 500 vehicles and machinery, which require daily refuelling and regular maintenance.
BMC officials said that the proposed in-house facilities would offer both diesel and petrol filling, ensuring efficient vehicle management while cutting down operational expenses for the corporation.
The proposal was discussed at the corporation meeting on Wednesday and most corporators endorsed the idea to have a dedicated fuel station owned by BMC, said Mayor Sulochana Das.
“If we have our own refuel station, we can run it on a business model. We won’t have to buy lakhs of litres of diesel from private stations. We can also monetise it as other people can come and refuel,” she said.
Tentatively, a site has been selected to set up both the facilities. It has been decided to establish the facilities close to the Temporary Transit Station (TTS), where BMC has enough space. Several civic bodies in the country have their own refuel station, and BMC will also have its own, she added.
The mounting cost of repair and maintenance is putting enormous financial burden, said officials. Huge amount is spent on repair works daily and it will end soon. BMC plans to hire ITI-trained mechanical staff for the garage.
The move is aimed at substantially cutting operational cost and bringing savings for the civic body.
