Long queues were seen outside cooking gas agency offices and LPG dispensing centres for auto-rickshaws across West Bengal on Wednesday amid rising concerns over cooking gas availability.
Scenes of customers waiting for hours to obtain LPG cylinders were reported from several parts of Kolkata as well as other cities such as Siliguri and Jalpaiguri.
Officials of the Petroleum Dealers’ Association, however, said petrol and diesel supplies remained normal at filling stations across the state.
The queues appeared to be driven largely by panic buying among domestic consumers following the recent increase in LPG cylinder prices linked to the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
Auto-rickshaws, many of which run on LPG in Kolkata, were also seen lining up outside dispensing centres, with drivers complaining that they had to wait for hours to refuel.
LPG dealers said they had been instructed not to issue double-cylinder connections at present and that deliveries were slower due to the prevailing supply situation.
Also read: No LPG shortage in NE despite West Asia war: IOC
Meanwhile, the hospitality sector has begun feeling the impact of the disruption.
National Restaurant Association of India’s Kolkata chapter head Piyush Kankaria said the supply of cooking gas to eateries across the city had been completely halted from Wednesday.
Owners of roadside food stalls in commercial areas of Kolkata and Salt Lake claimed they were forced to buy cylinders at nearly double the retail price in the open market.
The developments come amid wider concerns about fuel supplies following geopolitical tensions affecting global energy flows.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said it has directed oil refineries to increase LPG production in view of current disruptions and constraints in fuel supply.
The ministry has also prioritised domestic LPG supplies to households and introduced a 25-day inter-booking period for refills to prevent hoarding and black marketing.
Follow us
