Petrol price hits century, throws life out of gear

Coimbatore: D Iniyaraj, a 27-year-old engineer, who had been hiring cabs for his official work for the last five-and-a-half years, has started using a two-wheeler due to rising petrol price.
On Sunday, petrol price touched Rs 100 in Coimbatore city and Rs 101.14 in Valparai. “When I started my career, petrol price was Rs 68 per litre and now, it has gone up to Rs 100 per litre. Until last month, I used to hire cabs to travel for my official work. But after the cab fare went up due to rising fuel price, I could not afford it with my travel allowance. So, I stopped hiring cabs and am now using my two-wheeler,” Iniyaraj told TOI. “I have been spending about 30% of salary on fuel.”
Rising petrol price has also affected S Syed Ibrahim, a 35-year-old food delivery agent. On Sunday, he used a bicycle to deliver food to customers in Thudiylaur area. “Food delivery is my part-time job. I am an ayurvedic professional and regularly visits Kerala to treat patients. It has been 10 days since I joined the food delivery platform due to financial distress. As I have been using bicycle for delivery, I would be sent only to a maximum distance of 5.5km. I usually deliver food to 10 people a day.”
Inspired by Ibrahim and due to the petrol price, other delivery agents have also ditched motorcycles for bicycles. “I want other people to start using bicycles as cycling offers a variety of health benefits,” he added.
Vellalore-based Arun Kumar Unnikrishnan is planning to use his motorcycle more than his car. “Two years ago, I used to spend Rs 500 to Rs 600 a week on petrol. Now, I spend Rs 1,000. I have decided to use my car only for absolutely necessary situations,” he said.