Hours after assuring the nation that there is no fuel crisis, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has introduced a set of stringent new rules for LPG cylinder bookings. The new directives came into effect late Wednesday night, causing a flutter among consumers who were already worried about supply disruptions. While the government maintains that there are sufficient reserves, the sudden overhaul of the booking process suggests a strategic move to regulate domestic consumption amidst global volatility.

According to the new guidelines, the ministry has introduced a mandatory cooling-off period between two consecutive cylinder bookings. This means a consumer might have to wait for a specific number of days before placing a second refill request. Additionally, the digital verification process during delivery, including OTP-based authentication, has been made more rigorous to curb the diversion of domestic cylinders for commercial use. The government insists these measures are aimed at ensuring transparency and preventing hoarding at the distributor level.

Market analysts observe that these “supply chain optimizations” are often a precursor to managing tight inventories. By slowing down the booking frequency, the administration can stretch existing stocks over a longer period. However, this has led to a rush at gas agencies as people fear that obtaining a cylinder might become more cumbersome in the coming weeks. Consumers are encouraged to use official mobile apps for bookings to stay updated with the revised norms. The timing of this policy shift, right in the middle of a global energy debate, has raised questions about whether the fuel situation is as stable as officially claimed.