Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has indicated that petrol and diesel prices in India could be reduced if international crude oil prices remain low for the next few weeks, offering hope of relief for consumers amid easing global energy markets.

Speaking on the outlook for domestic fuel prices, the minister said the government and public sector oil marketing companies are closely monitoring global crude oil trends before taking a final decision. He suggested that any reduction in retail fuel prices would depend on sustained stability in international crude prices rather than short-term fluctuations.

Global crude oil prices have softened in recent weeks following easing geopolitical tensions in West Asia and the resumption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The decline has led to expectations that Indian consumers could also benefit if the lower prices continue.

Despite the fall in crude prices, petrol and diesel rates at retail outlets operated by public sector oil marketing companies have remained unchanged. According to the minister, these companies are still recovering losses incurred during the period when international crude prices surged sharply, prompting a cautious approach to any immediate reduction in retail fuel prices.

Industry experts believe sustained lower crude prices would improve the financial position of oil marketing companies, making a revision in fuel prices more feasible. However, officials have indicated that any decision will be based on market conditions over the coming weeks rather than a temporary decline in global prices.

Meanwhile, the government has also revised export duties on certain petroleum products in response to changing global oil prices. Effective July 1, export duties on diesel and aviation turbine fuel (ATF) have been reduced, while the export duty on petrol has been increased to help ensure adequate domestic supplies.

Private fuel retailer Nayara Energy recently announced a reduction in petrol and diesel prices across its retail network. However, Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, which together account for the majority of the country's fuel retail market, have not announced any changes in pump prices so far.

Officials said fuel prices in India continue to be influenced by multiple factors, including international crude oil prices, exchange rates, taxes and the financial position of oil marketing companies. Consumers are now awaiting further clarity on whether the recent decline in crude prices will translate into lower retail fuel prices in the coming weeks.

Bilaspur is witnessing a growing fuel crisis as nearly 13 petrol pumps across the city and surrounding areas have reportedly run dry, leaving commuters struggling for petrol and diesel. The shortage has hit both urban and rural belts, with the worst impact being seen on the Bilaspur-Korba route, where several pumps in Uslapur, Koni, Sendri, Sakri and Ghutku are either completely out of stock or supplying fuel in limited quantities. Long queues of vehicles were seen outside the few pumps that still had fuel available, while many stations displayed ‘No Stock’ boards, creating panic among residents and transport operators alike.

According to petrol pump operators, the disruption is mainly affecting HPCL outlets, while BPCL pumps are also facing shortages of petrol and diesel. Some Indian Oil pumps have also been impacted, though they are reportedly receiving supply comparatively faster. On Wednesday, several tankers failed to arrive on time, worsening the situation and forcing many fuel stations to suspend sales entirely. Pump owners stated that payments to oil companies had already been made and tankers had been dispatched from depots, but delays in transportation caused the sudden shortage.

The fuel crisis has triggered anxiety among citizens, with many vehicle owners rushing to fill their tanks fearing the situation could worsen in the coming days. Petrol pumps at Tagore Chowk, Seepat Chowk, Police Petrol Pump and Baima-Nagoi Chowk witnessed unusually heavy crowds throughout the day. Employees at several stations said customers were demanding larger quantities of fuel than normal, hoping to avoid inconvenience if more pumps shut down. This sudden surge in demand has added additional pressure on the limited stock available.

To control the situation and prevent complete depletion of supplies, several petrol pumps have started rationing fuel. In many places, bike riders are being given petrol worth only Rs 200 instead of the usual Rs 500. Car owners are receiving limited quantities, while diesel supply for heavy vehicles has also been restricted. Some pumps have reportedly imposed caps of 40 to 50 litres per customer to ensure fuel reaches a larger number of people and to prevent black marketing. However, transport operators claim this has created serious difficulties for commercial transportation and logistics services.

The crisis is being felt more intensely in rural areas, where supply delays have become more frequent. Petrol pump operators in villages and outskirts said tankers are arriving two to three days late despite advance payments being completed. Residents in these areas are now travelling long distances in search of fuel, while transporters fear the shortage could soon impact essential supply chains. Though bus and ambulance services are currently operating normally, concern is growing among commercial vehicle owners, especially those operating on industrial routes like Bilaspur-Korba.

Sources associated with the fuel business said another reason behind the sudden pressure on regular petrol pumps is the rise in commercial diesel prices. Truck and heavy vehicle operators are allegedly avoiding commercial outlets and instead purchasing diesel from regular fuel stations at comparatively cheaper rates. This has sharply increased demand at standard pumps and accelerated stock depletion. Reports have also surfaced that some fuel stations are allegedly charging higher rates from commercial vehicles, prompting authorities to introduce quota systems to regulate distribution.

Despite the growing concerns, district administration officials have maintained that the situation remains under control. Food Controller Amrit Kujur stated that payments for fuel supply had already been processed for nine petrol pumps and fresh stock was expected to reach them shortly. He added that supply for four fuel stations was still pending due to payment-related issues but oil companies were being continuously contacted to restore normal operations. Officials expressed hope that fuel availability would improve within the next one or two days.

Bilaspur Collector Sanjay Agrawal also attempted to reassure the public, saying there was no major shortage in the district and that coordination with oil companies was underway to normalize supply. To address the issue, the Collector has called an important meeting on Thursday with representatives of oil companies and the Petrol Pump Association. The meeting is expected to focus on supply management, transportation delays and measures to prevent panic buying among consumers.

Meanwhile, Petrol Pump Association president Navdeep Singh Arora acknowledged that several pumps had indeed run dry but insisted that the situation was not alarming. He said some outlets were likely to receive fresh stock either late at night or by Thursday morning. According to him, a few stations in the city, including the Ganga Fuels pump, were already shut before the current crisis, while some others like the Nehru Chowk pump had repeatedly faced shortages in recent weeks. The Devkinandan Chowk fuel station has reportedly remained closed for nearly a month.

The shortage has once again exposed the fragile nature of fuel supply chains and the dependence of transport and daily life on uninterrupted petroleum availability. With rising temperatures and increased travel demand, citizens are hoping authorities can quickly restore normal supply before the situation turns more severe. Until then, long queues, limited refueling and uncertainty are likely to continue across Bilaspur and nearby areas.

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