New Delhi: Centre said fuel supplies remained stable across India and announced a ₹10,000 crore Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) price stabilisation mechanism during a West Asia briefing on Thursday. The government said the measure would help airlines maintain services and reduce the impact of global fuel price volatility on passengers.
Officials from multiple ministries reviewed developments linked to the ongoing West Asia crisis. They said all refineries were operating at high capacity and maintaining adequate crude inventories. They also confirmed sufficient stocks of petrol and diesel across the country.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation said the ATF support mechanism would provide temporary stability in fuel costs for scheduled Indian airlines. As a result, carriers would be able to plan operations more efficiently and maintain connectivity across domestic and international routes.
The government also urged citizens to avoid panic purchases of petrol, diesel and LPG. Moreover, authorities asked consumers to rely only on official information sources.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said around 1.43 crore domestic LPG cylinders were delivered against bookings of about 1.50 crore cylinders during the last three days. At the same time, more than 80,400 PNG consumers surrendered LPG connections through the MYPNGD.in platform.
West Asia briefing reviews transport and maritime operations
Officials said all retail fuel outlets continued normal operations. Furthermore, enforcement agencies intensified inspections to curb hoarding and black marketing of fuel products.
The government reported that all Indian seafarers in the Gulf region remained safe. In addition, no incidents involving Indian-flag merchant vessels or Indian crew members on foreign-flag vessels were reported during the past 24 hours.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said it had facilitated the repatriation of more than 3,474 Indian seafarers from the region. Meanwhile, Indian ports continued operations without congestion.
The Ministry of External Affairs said Indian missions across West Asia remained on alert and were providing round-the-clock assistance. Missions also continued coordination with local authorities and community groups.
However, one Indian national lost his life in an attack on Kuwait International Airport. Additionally, 13 Indian nationals suffered injuries and are receiving treatment. The Indian Mission in Kuwait is assisting the affected individuals and their families.
The government said flight operations from several Gulf countries continued, although some routes remained subject to restrictions. Nevertheless, authorities stated that the overall aviation situation was improving.
