Airtel dealer offers free petrol with SIM cards in Kothagudem

An Airtel dealer in Kothagudem district offered one litre of petrol free with every SIM card purchase amidst a statewide fuel shortage in Telangana. The marketing gimmick drew crowds, even as petrol stations in Khammam and Warangal faced long queues.

Kothagudem: Amidst a statewide shortage of petrol, an Airtel dealer in Kothagudem district introduced an innovative offer to cash in on the fuel crisis.

The dealer offered one litre of petrol to anyone who purchased a SIM card from his store at Dammapet in the district. Whether it is a new connection or porting a number from another network to Airtel, customers are being provided with one litre of petrol free of cost along with a recharge worth Rs 350.

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This marketing tactic, employed by the Airtel dealer to boost the customer base, is currently garnering significant attention and appreciation among netizens. Many of the locals rushed to the store to get the SIM card and avail the offer.

It might be noted that as it has been happening all across the Telugu States, motorists in erstwhile Khammam district are enduring hardships due to an artificial fuel shortage with petrol stations displaying ‘No Stock’ boards for the past couple of days.

Even as the district collectors and civil supplies officials are claiming that there is no shortage of fuel, people are seen forming long queues at the few stations that remain open just to refuel their vehicles. The motorists are seen at fuel stations even in the midnight hours.

Meanwhile, at some petrol stations in erstwhile Khammam and Warangal districts the dealers are insisting on cash payments only and refusing to accept UPI payments to manage overcrowding.

As a result the motorists are forced to turn back due to a lack of cash while some others leave to get cash to get petrol or diesel resulting in temporarily empty stations. On the other hand several individuals at the petrol station premises are charging a commission for exchanging cash for UPI payments.