BJP leader R Ashoka says potholes, not ethanol behind lower vehicle mileage

Karnataka Leader of Opposition R Ashoka has blamed the poor condition of roads for declining vehicle mileage in Bengaluru, rejecting the role of ethanol-blended petrol. He accused the Congress government of using the dispute over fuel quality to divert attention from its failures.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, November 12, the BJP leader cited the falling average speed of Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses as evidence of the city's road conditions. He said buses that earlier travelled at an average speed of 18 kmph now managed only 11 kmph, attributing the decline to potholes rather than ethanol blending.

“Congress and Chief Minister DK Shivakumar say that mileage has reduced. Mileage has reduced not because of petrol or diesel, but due to potholes on roads. Roads across Karnataka have developed potholes, resulting in low mileage,” Ashoka said. He argued that frequent braking on damaged roads increased fuel consumption.

Ashoka's remarks come after the Karnataka government said tests on petrol samples had detected ethanol content of up to 31%, exceeding the prescribed 20% blend under the E20 standard. Food and Civil Supplies Minister Rizwan Arshad has said that excess ethanol blending could affect vehicle mileage and engine health.

Questioning the state's findings, Ashoka said the government had disclosed results for only 11 of the 63 samples collected. He demanded that it publish the remaining results and disclose which petrol outlets the samples came from. He also alleged that the government had not followed the prescribed procedures for collecting and testing the samples.

“Out of 63 samples, only 11 samples were shown. The test results of the remaining samples should also have been shown. Were the samples collected from Congress-owned petrol bunks? Which bunks? That has not been disclosed,” he said.

Ashoka also questioned the basis for concerns about ethanol-blended fuel, claiming that vehicle manufacturers had not reported engine damage and consumers had not approached courts over the issue. He said other states, including Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, had not reported similar problems.

“No problem has been reported from Himachal Pradesh, Punjab or other states,” he said, alleging that only Congress leaders, including Arshad and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, were raising objections.

Defending the Union government's ethanol policy, Ashoka said blending had saved India more than Rs 1.9 lakh crore in foreign exchange between 2014-15 and May 2026. He also claimed it had reduced crude oil consumption by more than 310 lakh tonnes and carbon dioxide emissions by around 930 lakh metric tonnes.

Farmers had received additional income of more than Rs 1.6 lakh crore through ethanol production, he said. Ashoka urged the Congress government to seek an impartial inquiry and make all test findings public rather than create panic among motorists. He also asked Congress leaders to take up their concerns with the Union government, arguing that their criticism undermined the additional income earned by farmers.