Chennai, Apr 28: New LPG gas connections across India have been temporarily suspended following directions from the Central Government, according to officials from Indian Oil Corporation and other oil firms.
The decision comes amid concerns over misuse of connections and recent supply disruptions that have affected distribution in several regions.
Earlier geopolitical tensions in West Asia had impacted fuel transportation, leading to interruptions in LPG supply. As a result, the waiting period for cylinder bookings has increased:
In urban areas, the gap has risen from 21 days to 25 days
In rural areas, it has extended up to 45 days.
This has caused inconvenience for households dependent on regular LPG refills.
Authorities have also flagged instances of misuse, where individuals allegedly used different Aadhaar numbers to obtain multiple LPG connections despite already having one. Officials say such practices have led to duplication and disrupted fair distribution of cylinders.
According to a Petroleum Ministry official, several complaints were received about people applying for unnecessary additional connections.
To address this, the government has temporarily halted the issuance of new LPG connections. However, officials clarified that existing LPG supply and distribution continue as usual, and there is no need for panic among current consumers.