Indore Acts: Control Room Launched, Black Marketing in Crosshairs

As the commercial LPG cylinder shortage triggered by the West Asia conflict bites hard into Madhya Pradesh's commercial capital, the Indore district administration has launched a dedicated control room to monitor gas supply, receive public complaints, and take strict action against black marketeers who are exploiting the crisis.

Indore Collector assured citizens that there is no actual shortage of gas, petrol, or diesel in Indore — and issued a firm warning that black marketing will not be tolerated. Raids have already been conducted on shops found hoarding domestic LPG cylinders. The Free Press Journal

The control room launch is a direct response to mounting reports of agencies refusing to supply cylinders through official channels while selling them at inflated prices under the counter — a practice that has emerged rapidly across India since commercial LPG supplies were suspended from March 9.

What Triggered the Crisis in Indore

The disruption is linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, particularly the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Nearly 87 per cent of India's annual LPG imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, making the country highly vulnerable to any disruption in the region. Wikipedia

On March 8, 2026, the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas issued the LPG Control Order 2026, directing all refineries to maximise LPG yields exclusively for domestic household use. Under this order, commercial LPG supply has been capped at just 20 per cent of the average monthly requirement to prevent hoarding and black marketing. Dainikjagranmpcg

For Indore's restaurants, dhabas, tea stalls, and wedding caterers — all running at peak season load — that 80 per cent cut in available commercial gas has been nothing short of devastating.

Ground Reality: Restaurants on Coal, Wood and Tandoors

Indore's food businesses are facing a severe commercial LPG cylinder shortage that has forced some to shut down entirely, while others have switched to cooking with wood, coal, tandoors, or induction stoves to stay operational. DNP INDIA

The stories from the street tell the story plainly.

"I run a tea and poha shop here. We are unable to get commercial cylinders due to the shortage. I bought coal and we are currently operating on that. We will see for a day or two, or else we will shut down. We cannot rely on coal for a long time," said Anil, a local shop owner. ThePrint

Larger restaurants have had to reorganise their entire cooking operations. "We have shifted to tandoor for most food items and stopped using the tawa for the time being. We will use it until commercial cylinders are available again. Our service is also affected because preparation takes extra time," said Ankur, a restaurant operator. ThePrint

In Indore, industries have also reported that both gas cylinders and pipeline gas supplies have been affected, reducing production capacity in several industrial units. Local industry leaders said the price of gas supplied to industries has been increased by ₹6 per unit — the first such hike in six months — and businesses have been instructed to use gas in limited quantities. The Tribune

Black Marketing: The Parallel Crisis

The supply gap has predictably created a grey market. Commercial LPG cylinders that were priced at ₹1,750 per cylinder in February 2026 were being sold for ₹1,883 in March — and in black market transactions, prices have soared far higher, with premiums of ₹400 to ₹500 per cylinder reported across cities. The Mooknayak

The Home Secretary chaired an emergency meeting with Chief Secretaries and DGPs of all states on March 11, directing them to closely track LPG supply chains and take strict action against anyone engaging in illegal sales. "The states and senior police officers need to ensure there is no black marketing or hoarding by individuals or groups, which may lead to further shortages and impact household supplies," officials stated. Asianet Newsable

Indore's control room is the local implementation of that national directive — giving ordinary citizens and business owners a direct channel to report agencies charging over the counter or refusing legitimate supply.

What the Administration Advised Caterers

The Civil Supplies Department in Indore called an urgent meeting with caterers in the city to inform them of the present situation and advise them on steps to manage it. Officials confirmed that separate meetings with hotel and restaurant operators are also being planned. Until the situation improves, businesses dependent on commercial LPG may have to explore alternative fuel sources, the department said. Amar Ujala

Central Government's Response: Supply Being Restored

The Petroleum Ministry announced on Thursday that some commercial LPG cylinders would be released to certain beneficiaries. An additional 48,000 kilolitres of kerosene is also being released to states. LPG production has been increased by 28 per cent through refinery directives in the last five days, and the environment ministry has allowed use of alternative fuels like biomass, coal, and kerosene at commercial establishments for one month. News9live

The Ministry also revised the inter-booking period for LPG refills from 21 days to 25 days, meaning consumers and businesses must now wait longer between each booking cycle. The Free Press Journal

Where to Complain in Indore Right Now

If your gas agency is not supplying cylinders or demanding extra money, here are your options:

• Indore LPG Crisis Control Room — launched by district administration (contact through Indore Collectorate)
• Indane Toll-Free Helpline: 1800-2333-555 (24x7)
• LPG Emergency Helpline: 1906
• Commercial LPG Helpline: 1860-599-1111
• Online complaint: IndianOil ONE mobile app or iocl.com

Bottom Line

Indore's control room launch is the right administrative step — but the real test is whether it delivers on the ground. The 2026 LPG crisis has exposed how thin India's commercial gas storage buffer truly is — with only approximately 22 days of total supply capacity — and why the country urgently needs to fast-track underground cavern storage expansion, PNG connections, and energy import diversification. Dainikjagranmpcg

For now, Indore's tea stall owners are cooking on coal, its wedding caterers are scrambling for alternatives, and the control room phone lines are open. Every complaint filed is a brick in the wall against black marketing.