**Executive Summary**
The Government of Maharashtra and PSU Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have assured citizens of adequate petrol, diesel, and LPG stocks despite global supply chain tensions and a significant surge in local demand as of May 25, 2026. Authorities are closely monitoring supply operations and have implemented measures to prevent hoarding and expedite gas infrastructure expansion. Consumers are urged to maintain normal purchasing behavior and avoid panic buying to ensure continued stability.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Petrol and Diesel Management**
* **Stock Assurance:** Adequate fuel stocks are available at all retail outlets and storage locations; stocks are regularly monitored and replenished by the State Government and OMCs.
* **Demand Surge:** Petrol demand rose by 18.54% and diesel by 22.3% during the first three weeks of May 2026 compared to the previous year.
* **Drivers of Demand:** Increased offtake is attributed to seasonal agricultural activities and private company customers migrating to PSU outlets due to a ₹30 per litre price differential.
**LPG Distribution and Security**
* **Inventory:** Maharashtra holds approximately 31,789 MT of LPG stock, with continuous replenishment for distributors.
* **Equitable Distribution:** To manage supply, booking intervals are restricted to 25 days for urban customers and 45 days for rural customers.
* **Verification Protocols:** More than 90% of deliveries are secured via mandatory Delivery Authentication Code (DAC) or OTP verification.
* **Commercial & Priority Supply:** Priority sectors (hospitals, educational institutions) receive 100% supply, while other commercial sectors receive approximately 60% of pre-war levels.
**Infrastructure and Expansion**
* **PNG Growth:** Maharashtra has approximately 44 lakh PNG connections; over 1.03 lakh new connections were energized between April 1, 2026, and late May 2026.
* **Administrative Support:** "Deemed permission" was issued on March 27, 2026, to fast-track CGD pipeline laying by municipal and state authorities.
* **Review Mechanism:** Weekly state-level review meetings have been conducted since April 2026 to monitor implementation and network expansion.
**Regulatory Enforcement**
* **Anti-Hoarding Measures:** District Collectors have formed vigilance teams to conduct daily raids and inspections to prevent black marketing.
* **Legal Action:** Strict action, including FIRs and cylinder seizures, is being taken under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
**Impact Analysis**
**General Consumers and Farmers**
**Impact:** Affected by a surge in fuel demand but protected by price stability at PSU outlets; subject to specific booking intervals for LPG.
**Action Required:** Avoid panic buying or hoarding; use digital platforms for LPG bookings and provide DAC/OTP at the time of delivery.
**PSU Oil Marketing Companies (BPCL, IOCL, HPCL)**
**Impact:** Responsible for meeting heightened demand and maintaining uninterrupted supply chains amid geopolitical tensions.
**Action Required:** Ensure regular replenishment of retail outlets, participate in weekly review meetings, and manage the migration of private sector customers.
**District Administrations and Collectors**
**Impact:** Tasked with maintaining law and order regarding essential commodities and overseeing infrastructure permissions.
**Action Required:** Mobilize vigilance teams for inspections, register FIRs against illegal hoarding/black marketing, and facilitate CGD pipeline laying.
**Migrant Labourers**
**Impact:** Targeted for social support through the distribution of 5 kg Free Trade LPG (FTL) refills.
**Action Required:** Access daily distribution channels as per government directives (approximately 20,400 cylinders available daily).
Key Entities Referenced
PSU Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs): Entities including BPCL, IOCL, and HPCL responsible for ensuring uninterrupted supplies of petrol, diesel, and LPG.
Maharashtra: The central state for which fuel stock availability, demand monitoring, and infrastructure expansion are being managed.
Essential Commodities Act, 1955: The legislation under which enforcement actions are taken against hoarding and black marketing of petroleum products.
City Gas Distribution (CGD) Network: An initiative aimed at the fast-track expansion of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) infrastructure and household connections.
Public Distribution System (PDS): The framework used for the allocation and distribution of kerosene across various districts in the state.
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies ensure
uninterrupted fuel supplies amid demand surge
in Maharashtra
OMCs appeal to consumers to continue normal purchasing
behaviour and avoid unnecessary panic buying
Posted On: 25 MAY 2026 6:30PM by PIB Mumbai
Mumbai : 25 May 2026
Amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East impacting global supply
chains, the Government of Maharashtra and PSU Oil Marketing Companies (BPCL,
IOCL, and HPCL), through the State Level Coordinator (Oil Industry), Maharashtra,
Shri Mihir Ganesh Joshi, have assured consumers that adequate petrol, diesel and
LPG stocks are available across the State of Maharashtra. Supply operations are
being closely monitored and maintained without disruption.
Stock & Supply Position of Petroleum Products in Maharashtra
Petrol & Diesel
The PSU Oil Marketing Companies have assured that there are adequate stocks of
petrol and diesel available at all petrol pumps as well as storage locations of Oil
Companies across Maharashtra. Stocks at petrol pumps are being regularly
monitored by the State Government as well as Oil Companies and replenished to
ensure uninterrupted availability.
All the three PSU Oil Marketing Companies have recently observed a sharp surge in
demand for diesel and petrol at retail outlets across all districts in Maharashtra.
However, the increased demand has been fully met by the PSU Oil Companies.
During the first three weeks of May 2026 (1 May 2026 to 21 May 2026), a
significant growth in fuel demand compared to the corresponding period last year
has been observed, with petrol demand increasing by 18.54% and diesel demand by
22.3%. A total of 402 Thousand Kilo Litres (TKL) of petrol and 789 Thousand Kilo
Litres (TKL) of diesel have been supplied across Maharashtra by the three PSU Oil
Marketing Companies.
The PSU Oil Marketing Companies have witnessed significantly higher offtake of
petroleum products driven by seasonal agricultural activity across multiple districts.
Additional demand pressure has also emerged due to migration of private companyretail customers to PSU retail outlets owing to lower prices, along with a visible shift
of institutional and industrial consumers to retail fuel outlets because of an
approximate price differential of ₹30 per litre.
Consumers and farmers have been requested not to resort to panic buying, as
sufficient stocks of petrol and diesel are available across the State.
LPG
Maharashtra currently has approximately 31,789 MT of LPG stock available across
all the three PSU Oil Marketing Companies, while distributor stocks are being
regularly replenished to ensure smooth supply.
Domestic LPG
Adequate domestic LPG cylinder stocks are available and deliveries are continuing
as per customer bookings. To ensure equitable distribution, booking interval
restrictions remain in place, with a 25-day interval for urban customers and 45 days
for rural customers.
Oil Companies have assured that LPG refills will continue to be delivered directly to
customers’ residences.
Delivery Authentication Code (DAC) verification remains mandatory at the time of
delivery to ensure secure and verified supply. More than 90% of refills are currently
being delivered through DAC/OTP authentication.
Consumers have also been advised to use digital platforms for refill bookings and
avoid visiting LPG showrooms unnecessarily.
Non-Domestic/Commercial LPG
At present, nearly 60% of commercial LPG supply, as compared to the pre-war
situation, is being met while ensuring 100% supply to priority sectors such as
hospitals, educational institutions, crematoriums and social care institutions.
In addition, 5 kg Free Trade LPG (FTL) refills are being distributed for migrant
labourers as per Government directives, with approximately 20,400 cylinders being
delivered daily on average during May 2026.
Piped Natural Gas (PNG)
Considering the present supply emergency and the urgent need to expand piped
natural gas infrastructure, the Government of Maharashtra issued deemed
permission on 27 March 2026 for pending applications related to CGD pipeline laying
by Municipal Corporations, PWD, Irrigation Department and other concerned
authorities.
Maharashtra currently has approximately 44 lakh PNG connections, the highest in
the country.
To expedite PNG network expansion across Maharashtra, the Government of
Maharashtra has initiated fast-track expansion of the City Gas Distribution (CGD)
network across the State.
From 1 April 2026 onwards, a total of 1,03,094 new PNG gas connections have been
energised in Maharashtra, which is among the highest in the country.Weekly state-level review meetings have been held since April 2026 by the
Additional Chief Secretary, Food & Civil Supplies Department, Government of
Maharashtra, along with the State Level Coordinator (Oil Industry), Maharashtra,
with participation from District Administrations and CGD companies to review on-
ground implementation and expedite network expansion.
Applications for PNG connections are being accepted from registered as well as
unregistered or proposed housing societies. Residents of buildings constructed
under individual housing schemes may also submit collective or individual
applications, as applicable.
CGD companies and their authorised distributors are simultaneously undertaking
extensive publicity campaigns to encourage new PNG connections across the State.
The State Government has taken several proactive measures to prevent black
marketing and hoarding of domestic LPG cylinders.
All District Collectors have been instructed to constitute vigilance and mobile teams
at the district level to conduct inspections and raids. Strict action is being taken
under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 against individuals involved in illegal use
of domestic gas, hoarding and black marketing. Daily raids are being conducted by
State Government teams and unauthorised cylinders are being seized. FIRs are also
being registered wherever required.
Regular review meetings are also being conducted with Oil Marketing Companies
(BPCL, HPCL and IOCL), gas distributors and CGD companies to ensure smooth and
uninterrupted supply of petroleum products across Maharashtra.
Distribution of Public Distribution System (PDS) kerosene allocated by the
Government of India has commenced in Maharashtra. A total of 452 KL of kerosene
has been distributed in the districts of Gadchiroli, Gondia, Chandrapur, Nashik,
Wardha, Akola, Buldhana, Nagpur, Palghar, Thane, Dharashiv, Solapur, Latur, Sangli,
Kolhapur, Ratnagiri, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nanded, Beed and Raigad.
In view of the above, citizens across Maharashtra have been requested not to resort
to panic buying or hoarding of petroleum products. The Government of India,
Government of Maharashtra and PSU Oil Companies are ensuring proper and
smooth supply of petroleum products across the State.
PIB Mumbai | Jaydevi Pujari Swami/ Edgar Coelho/ Priti Malandkar
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