New Delhi: West Asia updates prompted the Government of India to take coordinated steps to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply, stable logistics and safety of Indian nationals.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said petrol, diesel and LPG supplies remained stable. It urged citizens to avoid panic buying and rely on official updates. At the same time, it advised LPG consumers to use digital booking systems.
Officials confirmed that domestic LPG, PNG and CNG supplies continued at full capacity. They prioritised critical sectors such as hospitals, education and agriculture for commercial LPG distribution. In addition, they doubled supply of 5 kg cylinders for migrant workers.
Since March 23, more than 14.3 lakh 5 kg FTL cylinders were sold. On April 13 alone, around 1.1 lakh cylinders were distributed. Meanwhile, over 4,450 awareness camps promoted these cylinders across the country.
West Asia updates drive PNG expansion and enforcement action
The government accelerated PNG expansion to reduce LPG demand. Since March, about 4.40 lakh PNG connections were activated, while 4.88 lakh new users registered. Authorities also encouraged consumers to adopt alternate fuels.
States and Union Territories played a key role in monitoring fuel supply. They acted under the Essential Commodities Act to curb hoarding and black marketing. On April 13, officials conducted over 2,950 raids nationwide.
Public sector oil companies carried out inspections and penalised 232 LPG distributors. They also suspended 56 agencies for violations. At the same time, authorities maintained strict monitoring through control rooms and district committees.
Refineries operated at high capacity with adequate crude stocks. Domestic LPG production increased to meet demand. However, global crude price volatility continued due to the regional situation.
The government reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹10 per litre to protect consumers. It also raised export levies on diesel and aviation fuel to ensure domestic availability. Retail prices remained unchanged.
Port operations across India continued without congestion. Officials confirmed that maritime safety measures protected Indian vessels and seafarers. More than 2,262 seafarers were repatriated, including 85 in the last 24 hours.
The Ministry of External Affairs intensified diplomatic outreach. The External Affairs Minister spoke with counterparts from Kuwait, Israel, Singapore and Australia. These discussions focused on the regional situation and Indian community welfare.
Indian missions operated round-the-clock helplines and assisted nationals across the region. Since February 28, around 9,55,000 passengers travelled from West Asia to India. Authorities facilitated movement through multiple routes where airspace restrictions applied.
Officials said the government continued to monitor developments closely. They added that coordinated action under the West Asia updates ensured energy security, stable supply chains and citizen safety.
