Bhubaneswar: Motorists across several districts in Odisha faced long queues and rationing at petrol pumps on Thursday as multiple stations displayed “No Stock” boards, sparking fears of a deepening fuel crisis linked to escalating global oil supply tensions.
Visuals from the ground showed crowds gathering at fuel stations in the state capital Bhubaneswar and other areas including Jeypore, Kalahandi and Kendrapada, amid growing concerns over fuel availability. Many pumps reportedly put up barricades due to empty tanks, while others implemented strict rationing — limiting two-wheelers to Rs 200 worth of fuel and four-wheelers to Rs 2,000.
The shortages come against the backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which have disrupted global oil supplies. The situation has been compounded by panic buying, leading to extended waiting times and stranded travellers. Some filling stations have remained closed for hours or even days, according to local accounts. “We don’t know when we will receive the supply. We have been facing this issue for the past 7-8 days,” a staffer at a petrol pump said.
Delivery workers and daily commuters expressed frustration over the impact on their livelihoods. “We need fuel every day for food and goods delivery, but now vehicles are getting stuck,” said a delivery boy.
However, officials and industry representatives have strongly dismissed any notion of a statewide shortage.
General Secretary of the Utkal Petroleum Dealers Association Sanjay Lath clarified that there is adequate stock of petrol and diesel in Odisha. “There is no shortage of fuel. People should stay away from rumours of petrol shortage,” he said.
Lath attributed the temporary dry-outs to sustained panic buying over the past 2-3 days, which outpaced normal transportation and replenishment cycles. “Petrol and diesel sales have increased significantly in the last three days — almost by 50 per cent, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for austerity measures as many people misinterpreted it and feared an impending oil crisis, leading to hoarding of fuel. Due to this sudden surge in demand, a few petrol pumps with smaller storage capacity in Bhubaneswar have temporarily run out of stock,” he noted.
He further stated that only about 100 of 3,000 fuel stations in the state and 3 to 4 of 41 outlets in Bhubaneswar are currently facing stock shortage. Most of these would be refilled by evening, he said, and appealed to people to avoid unnecessary crowding at petrol pumps. “The situation is completely normal now. Petrol and diesel are available at all pumps. There is no restriction or rationing. Anyone can fill up their vehicle’s tank fully,” he added.
This aligns with assurances from Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, which have repeatedly confirmed sufficient availability across retail outlets and urged citizens to avoid panic buying.
