Bhubaneswar: For thousands of gig workers travelling through the city as they deliver food, groceries and what not, every kilometre travelled directly impacts their earnings. As the ethanol-blended petrol becomes the norm at fuel stations, many delivery riders operating older motorcycles say they have little choice but to use the E20-blended fuel despite concerns over falling mileage and rising running costs.Unlike regular commuters who may use their vehicles for a few trips a day, delivery riders often travel between 80km and 150km daily. Many of these workers rely on motorcycles purchased years before E20-compatible models became the standard, making them particularly vulnerable to any increase in fuel expenses.Several riders said they have noticed a decline in mileage over the past few months, forcing them to spend more on fuel at a time when earnings are already under pressure.“Earlier, I could complete an entire day’s deliveries with less fuel. Now I find myself going to the petrol pump more often. Even if the difference seems small, it affects my income at the end of the month,” said Santosh Behera, a food delivery executive who has been using a 2018-model motorcycle for the past six years.For gig workers, fuel is among the biggest recurring expenses. Many said they cannot afford to upgrade to newer E20-compliant motorcycles, nor can they consider expensive alternatives such as pure petrol. “A new bike is beyond my budget right now. I have to continue with my existing motorcycle and use whatever fuel is available. We don’t have the luxury of choosing,” said food delivery executive Debasish Sahoo.Delivery workers said the situation is particularly challenging because incentives offered by platforms are linked to the number of orders completed rather than fuel expenses incurred. As a result, any increase in operating costs directly reduces their earnings.“We spend 10-12 hours on the road. If fuel consumption increases, our profit decreases. Customers get their food on time, but they do not realise how much we spend on fuel every day,” said Akash Nayak, another food delivery rider working in the city.Industry observers said gig workers represent a unique category of motorists because their livelihoods depend entirely on vehicle performance. While concerns over E20 have been debated among vehicle owners generally, the financial impact is felt more sharply by riders who spend most of their day on the road.Automobile analyst Satyabrata Mohanty said high-mileage users are usually the first to notice any change in fuel efficiency because even a minor variation can significantly affect monthly expenses. “A delivery pa travelling 2,000 km or more every month will closely track fuel consumption. These are consumers for whom every rupee spent on fuel matters,” Mohanty added.