India Steps Up Fuel Supply Measures Amid West Asia Crisis
The Indian government is taking steps to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply and maritime safety in the wake of disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz. The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas reported that there is no shortage of petrol, diesel, or LPG across the country, urging citizens to avoid panic buying and rely on verified information.
The Centre has reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹10 per litre and imposed export levies on diesel and aviation turbine fuel to maintain domestic availability. Around 51 lakh domestic LPG cylinders were delivered in a single day, while over 5.7 lakh 5-kg Free Trade LPG cylinders have been distributed since March 23.
To curb hoarding and black marketing, enforcement agencies conducted over 3,700 raids in a single day, issuing around 1,000 show-cause notices and suspending 27 LPG distributorships so far. States and Union Territories have been directed to intensify monitoring and counter misinformation.