Vehicles queue up at a CNG filling station near Sheraton Hotel. This often causes traffic jams on the capital's busy Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue. The CNG refuelling stations in the capital are struggling to cope with the ever-increasing demand for the fuel as conversion of petroleum-run vehicles continues at a very high pace. On average, about 2,000 vehicles are being converted into CNG-run ones every month, and about 92,135 vehicles were converted in 116 conversion workshops across the country until March this year. The insufficient CNG stations, which face frequent disruption due to persisting power outage, result in long queues of vehicles, often impeding traffic flow on the surrounding roads. As the potential entrepreneurs keep seeking permission to set up new CNG stations to avoid such gridlocks, the authorities concerned blame it on lack of land. The sufferings of both passengers and drivers intensify when they have to remain stuck in long queues for hours amid scorching heat. A large part of their time is being eaten up while waiting for refuelling. Sometimes the long line of vehicles is seen stretching up to even one kilometre. According to Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Limited (RPGCL), there are about 1.32 lakh CNG-run vehicles in the country. The RPGCL however does not know how many of these vehicles run in the capital. The converted vehicles put tremendous pressure mostly on the 99 refuelling stations in the city in addition to 130 stations elsewhere in the country. With the existing refuelling stations already being inadequate, power outage adds to further misery. The storage of a CNG station becomes empty while giving fuel to the vehicles and if the power goes off at that time, it takes at least half an hour to fill it up again. In the meantime, the queue stretches further, say some refuelling station employees. They warn the situation would get worse in the coming days if new stations are not set up in time. According to RPGCL, 19 more stations will be launched by June this year, including three in Dhaka. Drivers of CNG-run three-wheelers and taxicabs say they often need several hours for refuelling. Abdul Hamid, driver of a three-wheeler, was in the queue at Mohakhali. He told The Daily Star he was waiting for about two hours but yet to get fuel as power went off suddenly. "It was 7:00pm when I joined the queue and now it's 8:30 and I don't know when I will get fuel. I could have earned over Tk 100 in the meantime," said the frustrated driver. "People often scold us if we ask for extra fare