WFH! Fuel prices skyrocket, denizens glad to be in office virtually

Petrol and diesel prices have crossed ₹100 per litre, and working professionals thank their stars that they have the option to not to travel to office, and instead work from home. Those who don’t have this option during the pandemic are hoping that their offices offer this facility, too.

With both petrol and diesel prices crossing ₹100 per litre, in all metro cities, residents of Delhi-NCR are thanking their stars that they still have the option to work from home (WFH), even if it’s pandemic induced. In fact, those who don’t have this choice, are now hoping that their offices, too, roll out a work from home facility since that’s the best way to ditch the skyrocketing fuel prices that are burning a hole in everyone’s pocket.

Fuel prices soar, making Delhi-NCR residents feel happy that they don’t have to travel to work every day amid the pandemic. (Photo: Amal KS/HT)

“Since the fuel prices have gone up so high, driving my car has suddenly become like a luxury,” says Surbhi Dua, who works in the airlines sector and is required to commute from her home in Vaishali to Gurugram, every day. She adds, “It’s damn expensive! And I’m surprised how still there are so many vehicles on the road. Since the pandemic is still on, with fuel available at such high prices, companies should themselves allow employees to work from home; it’s safer, supereffective and much more economical. At least employees who want to, should be allowed to work from the safety of the homes. Otherwise socho, pehle you spend on the fuel, and then on Covid treatment... phew!”

Due to the recent spike in petrol and diesel prices, many have thought of taking public modes of transportation, but feel that personal cars are ultimately more hygienic amid the pandemic.

Since many aren’t comfortable taking the public transport, Delhi Metro and buses seem to be out of question! “I’m so happy that my office has given us the option of working from him,” says IT professional Abhay Pratap Singh, who stays in north Delhi and has his workplace in Noida. “My office is a little far and imagine how much would I have had to pay for fuel, if I was asked to report at work every day? I’ve a small kid at home, and my wife isn’t comfortable if I take the metro, toh mujhe toh car se hi jana hota. But this way, I’m saving money, and now I feel that after all this pandemic induced WFH isn’t that bad an idea as opposed to how I felt it was earlier,” says Singh, and Sakshi Khurana, a data analyst living in Model Town, says, “My child has just turned one, and I recently resumed office. Earlier, I used to take the office cab to travel to my office in Noida. But now, they have increased the price of that facility, which I need to pay out of my pocket, and also I don’t feel that comfortable to travel with 3-4 other employees. So I guess I’ll continue working till work from home is allowed, and then may be I’ll have to quit.”

The increased fuel prices have also led to some denizens wondering on whether they should buy that planned car or wait and weigh out the pros and cons first. Take for instance Gurugram-based Akshay Tandon, who travels to Noida for work, who was thinking of investing in his second car. “My wife and I were thinking of buying a second car, which I thought I would take to work while she can drive our older car for household chores rather than having to wait and hire a cab or auto via cab aggregators. But now that the fuel price has gone up, the rental price of cabs or autos are also showing higher, and it’s certainly beyond our monthly budget. So now we are thinking, shall we look at buying an electric car? Petrol, diesel ka kharcha toh na ho pagega!” says Tandon

Author tweets @anjuri

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