The Indian government has reduced the mandatory gap between LPG refill bookings for rural households from 45 days to 25 days, bringing them on par with urban consumers. Union Minister of State for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Tourism Suresh Gopi announced the decision on Monday, citing significant improvement in LPG supply across the country. The move ends months of tighter restrictions that were imposed during the Iran-US war and the subsequent Strait of Hormuz crisis.
Rural Consumers Get Equal Access to LPG Refills
Under the new rule, domestic LPG customers in both rural and urban areas can now book a refill every 25 days. Earlier, rural households had to wait 45 days before placing their next order, while urban users already had a 25-day limit. The Petroleum Ministry has directed all Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to implement the change with immediate effect.
Supply Crisis Triggered by Iran-US War
The tightening of LPG refill rules was a direct consequence of the Iran-US war and the disruption at the Strait of Hormuz, which severely impacted global oil and gas supplies. India faced LPG availability issues, forcing the government to impose staggered booking intervals to ensure steady supply to all households. The 45-day gap for rural areas was meant to manage demand during the peak of the crisis.
Gradual Easing of LPG Restrictions
The government has been steadily rolling back supply curbs over the past few months. In June, restrictions on commercial LPG supply were eased, with OMCs allowed to supply non-domestic packed LPG at pre-war normal levels. Industries were permitted up to 50 percent of their pre-crisis consumption to maintain smooth operations.
LPG Prices Hit Consumers Despite Supply Relief
The supply crisis also pushed LPG prices higher. Domestic LPG cylinder prices were hiked by Rs 60 in March and by another Rs 29 in June. Following these increases, a 14.2 kg domestic LPG cylinder in Delhi costs Rs 942. While the reduction in the booking interval brings relief to rural consumers, actual delivery timing still depends on local supply and availability.
