Drivers planning a trip through Pali will need to check their wallets and carry physical cash before heading out to refuel their vehicles. The convenience of scanning and paying digitally at local fuel stations has come to a temporary halt in the region. Taking a firm stand against the merchant discount rate levied on digital transactions, the Pali Petroleum Dealers Association has implemented a major shutdown of online payment methods across the area.
Indefinite Suspension Affecting 300 Pumps
According to the association, UPI payments were officially halted across all fuel stations in the Pali district starting at 5 am on October 10. This strict measure will remain in place indefinitely until the demands put forward by the dealers are met. The rule currently applies to approximately 300 petrol pumps throughout the entire district. Consequently, motorists must now rely on physical cash or alternative payment methods available at the pumps to purchase petrol and diesel, making it essential to carry paper currency to avoid getting stranded.
Burden of Merchant Discount Rates
Pali Petroleum Dealers Association President Kartikeya Shrotriya pointed out that fuel dealers have consistently supported the government in promoting digital transactions nationwide for a long time. Despite this ongoing cooperation, dealers continue to shoulder a heavy financial burden due to the merchant discount rate. The deep dissatisfaction among operators stems from the government's failure to completely eliminate these charges. President Kartikeya Shrotriya made it clear that the association will not back down from its decision until authorities take a concrete and definitive step to remove the merchant discount rate entirely from fuel retail operations.
Concerns Over Private Payment Charges
Beyond institutional fees, the association has raised serious questions regarding private payment gateways and digital financial intermediaries. Dealers allege that a portion of funds is silently deducted from various transactions processed through different private payment companies without providing any transparent breakdown or clear information to the station owners. This lack of transparency leads to continuous financial losses and persistent confusion for the business operators managing these pumps.
