Bhubaneswar: Filling stations across the State except a few will remain shut on Friday on account of Republic Day.
Only a handful of stations will remain open to provide emergency services, said Sashanka Sahu, State president, the Petroleum Dealers Association.
“Unlike every year, we have decided to open some stations to meet any emergency. We decided to shut all stations across the State in view of the interest of staff, but oil companies requested us to keep some stations open, Sahu added.
The association has appraised its decision to the Odisha Chief Secretary.
The association said that the staff of the petrol pumps get only two holidays in a year, one on Independence Day and another on Republic Day. The decision has been taken in the greater interest of the employees of the filling stations.
