Bhubaneswar: Situation at filling stations in Capital City returned to normal on Sunday following days of chaos triggered by panic buying of petrol and diesel. While long queues that snaked for kilometres outside fuel stations have significantly reduced, mild crowding persisted at a few petrol pumps across the city.
Motorists, who had rushed to refill tanks amid rumours of supply disruptions linked to West Asia tensions and a recent Rs 3 per litre price hike during the last four days, are now finding better access to fuel.
On Saturday, Odisha government had directed the oil marketing companies (OMCs) to keep all four major fuel depots operational on Sunday to ramp up supply, as panic buying of petrol and diesel led to long queues at filling stations, temporary stock shortages at hundreds of pumps, and disruptions to daily life and livelihoods across the state.
The depots at Jatni, Balasore, Paradip, and Khurda, typically closed on Sundays, will now facilitate loading and transportation. Over 650 tankers are expected to distribute fuel on Sunday, with officials anticipating adequate stocks at most of the state’s around 2,800-2,850 petrol pumps by Monday evening.
Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra reviewed the situation in a meeting with OMC representatives and dealers. He described the crisis as “artificial,” stemming from misinterpretation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for fuel conservation amid the West Asia crisis, combined with rumours of possible price hikes. Patra emphasised that Odisha holds 13 days of fuel stock, bolstered by the Paradip refinery, and urged citizens to buy only as needed.
Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL) Chief General Manager and state-level coordinator Kamal Sheel echoed this, confirming no overall shortage and noting that OMC personnel are working through holidays to restore normal distribution.
Daily consumption stands at approximately 44.7 lakh litres of petrol and 1.12 crore litres of diesel, with urban areas seeing higher weekend demand. Panic buying drove a 37-50% spike in fuel sales over recent days, exhausting stocks at 200-300 stations and sharply reducing others.