UPI MDR Protest: Traders in MP Announce No-UPI Day as Petrol Pumps Oppose Charges

The Madhya Pradesh Petroleum Dealers Association stated that petrol pumps will not accept UPI payments of more than ₹2,000 from October 16th. Association President Ajay Singh said they have also written to their state-level coordinator.

Notices prohibiting the dispensing of petrol and diesel over ₹2,000 via UPI
Notices prohibiting the dispensing of petrol and diesel over ₹2,000 via UPI have been posted at some petrol pumps in Jhansi. However, Rajiv Babbar, president of the Jhansi Petrol-Diesel Association, says no such decision has been taken at the organization level. Notices displayed at pumps may be a personal decision of the operators.

In Ghaziabad, some shopkeepers have started demanding cash from customers. A notice has been put up outside a confectionery shop stating that UPI payments will not be accepted. Notices have also been posted outside some hair salons asking for cash payments instead of UPI.

Brijmohan Singhal, former general secretary of the Ghaziabad Petroleum Dealers Association, says that previously, even for credit card payments, a flat five rupees was deducted from the pump operator's account, which the government would refund.

The association has written a letter to the Finance Minister demanding that petrol pump operators incur losses due to the lack of margins on petroleum products. Consequently, a five rupee refund system similar to credit card payments should be implemented for online payments as well.

Anil Kumar, state president of the All Haryana Petroleum Dealers Association in Hisar, stated that the association has sent a letter to the Finance Minister and Petroleum Minister demanding complete exemption from MDR for petrol pumps. Associations in several other locations, including Patna, have also written to the Finance Minister demanding relief.