The government has intensified coordinated monitoring and response measures across key sectors including fuel supply, maritime operations, citizen safety and export logistics in view of evolving developments in West Asia, senior officials said during an inter ministerial briefing held at the National Media Centre.
The briefing, attended by officials from the Ministries of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ports Shipping and Waterways, External Affairs and Information and Broadcasting, provided a comprehensive update on preparedness and response mechanisms to ensure stability in supplies, safeguard Indian nationals and maintain economic continuity.
Fuel Supply Stable Panic Buying Declines
Officials confirmed that fuel availability across the country remains stable despite global disruptions, with all refineries operating at high capacity and maintaining adequate crude inventories. No fuel shortages or dry outs have been reported at retail outlets.
Citizens have been advised against panic buying, as supplies of petrol and diesel continue uninterrupted. Panic LPG bookings, which had surged earlier, have now declined to around 57 lakh, indicating stabilisation in consumer behaviour.
Domestic LPG supply remains normal with strengthened monitoring mechanisms. Online booking rates have increased from 84 percent to 94 percent, while Delivery Authentication Code coverage has reached 83 percent to curb diversion and ensure transparency.
Seventeen States and Union Territories have issued allocation orders for non domestic LPG, ensuring continued availability for commercial use.
PNG Push To Ease LPG Demand
The government has accelerated efforts to expand City Gas Distribution networks and promote piped natural gas as an alternative to LPG, particularly for commercial establishments.
Priority gas supply continues to be maintained for domestic PNG and CNG transport sectors, while industrial and commercial supply is regulated at around 80 percent. CGD entities have been directed to prioritise PNG connections for commercial establishments such as hotels and restaurants.
Companies including IGL, MGL, GAIL Gas and BPCL are offering incentives and faster connection timelines to encourage adoption. More than 5600 commercial consumers have already shifted to PNG in recent days, helping reduce pressure on LPG demand.
States and Union Territories have been urged to expedite approvals for CGD projects, including granting permissions within 24 hours, waiving charges and appointing nodal officers. An additional 10 percent allocation of commercial LPG has been offered as an incentive for states implementing reforms to support PNG expansion.
Strict Enforcement To Curb Hoarding And Black Marketing
The government has directed all States and Union Territories to maintain strict vigilance against hoarding, black marketing and diversion of essential commodities.
Over 6000 raids have been conducted across the country, resulting in the seizure of more than 11000 LPG cylinders. Enforcement actions including seizures, arrests and filing of cases have been reported from states such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana.
Public sector oil marketing companies are conducting more than 2000 daily surprise inspections at fuel outlets and LPG distributorships to ensure compliance and prevent irregularities.
All District Collectors and Food Civil Supplies officials have been instructed to carry out daily enforcement actions, while States have been asked to conduct daily press briefings, establish helplines and activate control rooms. So far, 31 States and Union Territories have set up control rooms and 25 have established district level monitoring committees.
Alternative Fuel Measures And Supply Management
To reduce dependence on LPG, the government has enabled the use of alternative fuels such as kerosene and coal. An additional allocation of 48000 kilolitres of kerosene has been provided, while coal supplies have been increased through Coal India and Singareni Collieries.
Measures such as revised LPG booking intervals, prioritised allocation and enhanced refinery output have been implemented to ensure uninterrupted supply, especially for households, hospitals and educational institutions.
The Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell has been designated as the nodal agency for collection and monitoring of petroleum and natural gas data under the Essential Commodities Act framework.
Maritime Operations Stable Seafarers Safe
The Ministry of Ports Shipping and Waterways reported that maritime operations remain stable with no congestion at major ports and no incidents involving Indian flagged vessels in the past 24 hours.
A total of 22 Indian flagged vessels with 611 Indian seafarers are currently in the western Persian Gulf region, all reported safe. The Directorate General of Shipping continues round the clock monitoring through its control room, which has handled over 3400 calls and more than 6500 emails since activation.
More than 488 Indian seafarers have been repatriated so far, including 16 in the past 24 hours. Ports including Mundra, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, Visakhapatnam and Deendayal Port Authority have enhanced storage capacity and operational readiness to manage cargo flows.
Indian Nationals Assisted Flights Gradually Resume
The Ministry of External Affairs stated that safety and welfare of Indian nationals in the region remain the highest priority. Around 2.8 lakh passengers have returned to India since February 28.
Flight operations are gradually improving with additional services from the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Saudi Arabia. Alternative transit routes through Saudi Arabia are being facilitated for Indian nationals from countries where airspace remains restricted.
The Prime Minister held discussions with Sheikh Sabah Al Khaled Al Hamad Al Mubarak Al Sabah Crown Prince of Kuwait, conveying concern over regional developments and emphasising the need for safe navigation and continued support for the Indian community.
Indian missions across the region remain operational round the clock, providing assistance including consular services, evacuation support and coordination with local authorities.
Relief Package Announced For Exporters
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has approved a relief package titled RELIEF under the Export Promotion Mission to support exporters affected by supply chain and logistics disruptions.
The package has a financial outlay of 497 crore and aims to strengthen resilience and facilitate trade continuity. An Inter Ministerial Group on Supply Chain Resilience is actively monitoring the situation and coordinating response measures.
Cyber Fraud Advisory Issued
Authorities have issued a public advisory warning citizens against cyber fraud related to LPG bookings. Fraudulent messages containing malicious files are being circulated to exploit the situation.
Consumers have been advised not to download suspicious applications or files and to rely only on official platforms for LPG services to safeguard personal and financial data.
The government reiterated that supplies of essential commodities remain stable and urged citizens to avoid panic buying, use resources judiciously and rely on verified information sources.
