Punjab Newsline | New Delhi
Central government has taken a major step in response to an unusual surge in diesel demand across certain parts of the country. An official order has been issued prohibiting industrial, commercial, and institutional users from purchasing petrol and diesel from retail petrol pumps with immediate effect.
According to the directive, these large consumers will now be required to procure their fuel only from designated bulk sale points. The restriction will remain in place for the next 90 days.
The decision comes after a significant price gap emerged between retail and bulk diesel rates. In Delhi, retail diesel is priced at ₹95.20 per litre, while bulk diesel costs around ₹134.50 per litre, creating a difference of over ₹39 per litre. This gap led many high-volume users such as telecom towers and industries to shift their purchases to retail fuel stations, increasing pressure on the retail supply system.
Officials noted that due to rising geopolitical tensions in West Asia, global crude oil prices have surged. However, to shield common consumers from price hikes, state-run oil companies avoided increasing retail fuel prices. This unintended gap between retail and bulk pricing encouraged bulk consumers to source fuel from petrol pumps, which was not the intended supply channel.
To correct this imbalance and ensure smooth distribution, the government has now restricted bulk users from retail outlets, mandating direct procurement from bulk sale points only. Authorities say the move is aimed at stabilizing supply chains and preventing misuse of subsidized retail pricing.
