Government Intensifies Measures to Ensure Fuel Stability and Citizen Safety Amid West Asia Crisis
NEW DELHI, MAY 06: The Government of India has ramped up strategic interventions to maintain a steady energy supply and ensure the safety of its citizens as the geopolitical situation in West Asia evolves.
During an inter-ministerial briefing held at the National Media Centre, officials from the Ministries of Petroleum and Natural Gas, as well as Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, confirmed that domestic fuel supplies remain stable despite global volatility.
To shield consumers from rising crude prices, the government has reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel by 10 per litre, while Public Sector Undertaking Oil Marketing Companies (PSU OMCs) have kept retail prices unchanged.
Furthermore, the government has ensured 100% supply for domestic LPG and PNG, implementing a Delivery Authentication Code (DAC) system that now covers 95% of deliveries to prevent any diversion of essential fuel.
In a significant push for alternative energy and convenience for migrant laborers, PSU OMCs have conducted over 10,400 awareness camps for 5 kg Free Trade LPG (FTL) cylinders since early April, resulting in the sale of more than 1,84,000 units.
To support the industrial sector, a dedicated provision of 1,120 metric tonnes per day of C3 and C4 molecules has been carved out from the LPG pool specifically for pharmaceutical, chemical, and paint companies.
On the infrastructure front, the National PNG Drive 2.0 has been extended until June 30, 2026, to accelerate the transition to piped natural gas, with nearly 9 lakh connections already gasified since March.
Authorities continue to conduct rigorous enforcement drives, with over 2,100 raids carried out recently to curb hoarding and black marketing across the country.Regarding maritime safety and the welfare of Indian nationals abroad, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Directorate General of Shipping reported that all Indian seafarers in the West Asian region remain safe, with no incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels in the past 48 hours.
The Indian Embassy in Tehran has successfully facilitated the movement of 2,520 Indian nationals out of Iran via land border routes as airspace remains only partially open.
While flight operations from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Kuwait continue normally, the government continues to advise citizens to rely on official channels for information and to avoid panic buying, reaffirming that adequate stocks of petroleum products are available at all retail outlets nationwide.