Aizawl: Ahead of the inauguration of Sairang Railway Station, the All Mizoram Petroleum Dealers Association (AMPEDA) has urged the Centre to set up a rail-fed oil depot in the state.
In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, AMPEDA highlighted the hardships faced by Mizoram due to its complete dependence on fuel transported by road from other states. The association said road transport is often unreliable, with delays and shortages caused by monsoon rains, landslides, and poor road conditions. At times, people have been forced to go days without fuel during the rainy season, they added.
The demand comes months after Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma met Rajesh Nambiar, Executive Director & Sales Head of Indian Oil AOD, in November 2024 at the Indian Oil Corporation State Office in Aizawl. During the meeting, the Chief Minister stressed the urgent need for a new oil depot and called for immediate steps to finalise its location and begin construction within the working season.
Responding to the proposal, Nambiar assured that all necessary documents had already been forwarded to IOC headquarters and that a decision on the depot’s location was expected soon. He also said that once the site is approved, the depot could be completed within two years.
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