Andhra Pradesh bans bulk fuel sales at 4,500 outlets, caps container fills at 200 litres

Citing austerity measures implicit substance proviso due to the fact that of the ongoing West Asia crisis, the Andhra Pradesh Civil Supplies Department earlier this period issued strict caller rules to astir 4,500 petrol and diesel outlets for substance income crossed the State.

In an authoritative bid dated May 4, 2026, Civil Supplies Commissioner K. Kanna Babu directed each District Collectors to guarantee that petrol pumps capable substance straight into conveyance tanks only.

Under Condition 16(4) of Form XIV of the Petroleum Rules, 2002, and the guidelines issued by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), petroleum products astatine retail outlets (ROs) are permitted to beryllium dispensed lone into the substance tanks of vehicles oregon into approved containers, taxable to a maximum bounds of 200 litres.

The bid further clarified that retail outlets are not licensed for bulk proviso operations. Bulk proviso of fuel is to beryllium carried retired lone done well-established nonstop income mechanisms designed to cater to bulk consumers. Any diversion of bulk substance sourcing to retail outlets violates statutory provisions and raises superior concerns related to safety, licensing, and operations.

But the bid stated that the proviso of diesel for cultivation and aquaculture operations would beryllium ensured successful a hassle-free manner, based connected existent requirements and taxable to verification by the authorities concerned.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Babu confirmed that the orders had been issued and violations would pull enactment nether the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and different applicable laws.

Meanwhile, the AP Federation of Petroleum Traders welcomed the determination but offered an alternate suggestion. Instead of putting restrictions connected substance sales, the federation projected restricting the operating hours of petrol and diesel bunks crossed the State.

Federation president Raavi Gopala Krishna suggested that outlets should unfastened astatine 6 a.m. and adjacent astatine 10 p.m. for the wide public. He said keeping retail outlets unfastened precocious into the nighttime oregon connected a 24/7 ground contradicted vigor ratio goals.

On the different hand, the Consortium of Indian Petroleum Dealers (CIPD) blamed the organization procurement of high-speed diesel for causing prolonged queueing and chaos astatine retail outlets.

Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) successful Andhra Pradesh connected Monday (May 18, 2026) said the availability of petrol and diesel was capable to conscionable existent demand, and that determination was nary shortage of these products anyplace successful the State. The State-level Coordinator for OMCs said the nationalist assemblage OMCs were intimately monitoring the proviso concern and taking steps to streamline logistics and expedite deliveries. During the archetypal fortnight of this month, the OMCs registered a maturation of 8.9% successful petrol supplies and 15.3% successful diesel supplies.

The OMCs besides said home LPG transportation was mean successful Andhra Pradesh, and that 32.90 lakh cylinders had been delivered this month.