Rizwan Arshad Cracks Down on Karnataka Petrol Pumps Over Short Delivery and Faulty Nozzles
By Neetha Bopaiah | Political Bureau, Bangalore Mail
September 16, 2026
BENGALURU — In a stern warning to fuel station operators across the state, Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Minister Rizwan Arshad announced on Wednesday that petrol pumps found repeatedly under-delivering fuel or operating with uncalibrated nozzles face immediate closure and severe legal action.
The state government’s decisive stance follows alarming findings from Mission Nikhara, an ongoing statewide audit led by the Legal Metrology Department to protect consumers from widespread short-dispensing at the pump.
Alarming Audit: 8.5 Out of 10 Nozzles Found Deviated
The initial phase of the inspection campaign paints a concerning picture for commuters across Karnataka.
Officials inspected 805 of the state’s 5,946 operational petrol pumps. Out of the inspected stations:
State Urges Centre to Revert to Mandatory Annual Calibrations
Beyond taking state-level enforcement action, the Karnataka government is pushing back against recent federal regulatory changes.
The state is preparing an official petition to the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution seeking a review of the Legal Metrology (General) Seventh Amendment Rules, 2025 (issued on December 18, 2025).
The 2025 amendment extended the mandatory verification interval for fuel dispensers from 12 months to 24 months.
Karnataka is actively requesting:
1. Reversion to mandatory annual (12-month) verification for all petrol pumps.
2. Stricter permissible error thresholds for automated fuel dispensing nozzles.
3. Enhanced direct state supervision over the entire recalibration process.
Mandatory Display Boards and Public Helpline
To ensure total transparency, Minister Arshad confirmed that the Legal Metrology Department will complete inspections of the remaining 2,100 targeted petrol pumps shortly.
Going forward, all fuel stations in Karnataka will be legally mandated to prominently showcase Calibration Display Boards, allowing customers to verify when the station’s dispensers were last officially inspected and certified.
How Citizens Can Report Fuel Short-Dispensing
The state government has urged citizens to stay vigilant against fuel cheating. If you suspect short delivery or improper metering at any petrol station in Karnataka, you can lodge an immediate complaint:
Toll-Free Consumer Helpline: 1800-599-1100
Department Action: Inspectors will be deployed within 48 hours of registered complaints to run spot audit tests.
768 outlets required mandatory recalibration, highlighting widespread maintenance negligence.
101 official cases were registered against violators.
₹6.66 lakh in total fines was collected on the spot.
Data gathered during Mission Nikhara revealed that roughly 8.5 out of every 10 fuel nozzles tested suffered from accuracy deviations. Crucially, instances of under-delivery outnumbered over-delivery by nearly 7 to 1, leaving little doubt that consumers were overwhelmingly bearing the financial burden of uncalibrated machinery.
“We will not tolerate short delivery or manipulation at fuel stations anywhere in Karnataka. Protecting consumer rights is paramount. Outlets where discrepancies are established will face strict penalties, and repeat offenders will have their licenses revoked and operations shut down,” Minister Rizwan Arshad stated.
