Fewer gas outlets, lower mileage are prompting auto drivers to go back to petrol SEVERAL autorickshaws in the city are back to using petrol tanks even after converting to LPG, citing problems with using the more ecofriendly fuel. ''I converted my autorickshaw to gas a few months ago following a government order last year, but I cannot use it. It gives lower mileage than petrol and there are very few gas outlets in the city. I have switched back to petrol,'' said A Sommaya, who is operating at Sowcarpet auto stand. Of the 51,113 autorickshaws in the city, around 13,500 have converted to LPG. Now most of them are switching back to petrol, according to N S Rajendran, general sec retary Auto and Taxi Drivers , Union.''We have told the government that they need to increase the number of auto LPG dispensing stations in the city With cars converting . to gas, it takes hours in a queue to get gas,'' he said. According to the State Transport Authority, there are 23 auto LPG dispensing stations in Chennai.''There are only around 10 outlets in the city. The others are far away. Sometimes, we have to drive a long distance out of our way just to fill gas. It is just not worth the Rs 10,000 it takes to convert,'' said N Sampath, who used gas for around two years but is now back to using petrol. Drivers complain that it gives lesser mileage, another reason for the conversion. filling gas.''Since we can't see it, we never know how much is actually put in,'' one driver said. One of the reasons for the lack of gas outlets, according to R Chidambaram of Indian Oil (which has 10 outlets in the city and surroundings), is the amount of space required. "We cannot have a stand alone gas outlet. It comes with our petrol and diesel outlets. Under government regulations there should be a mandatory distance maintained between the gas outlets and other buildings nearby,'' he said. Joint Commissioner for Transport D Narayanamoorthy said the government was planning to set up more outlets soon. Opting out Chennai was identified by the Supreme