Telangana sets up border checks amid fuel demand surge

Telangana Civil Supplies Department has intensified monitoring and set up border check posts amid a fuel demand surge triggered by panic buying and price-gap exploitation. Oil companies have been directed to increase supply by up to 15 per cent.

Hyderabad: The Civil Supplies department, in coordination with other departments, has set up border check posts to prevent out-of-state vehicles from crossing into Telangana exclusively for refuelling and exhausting local fuel reserves.

The department also constituted joint task forces comprising civil supplies, revenue, and police officials, which are conducting aggressive field inspections to halt diversions and illegal hoarding.

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At a meeting, Stephen Raveendra, Commissioner of Civil Supplies, said certain steps are being taken following a sudden spike in fuel demand triggered by the rumours of post-election price hikes and cross-border panic buying from Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

The strain on the state’s retail network was further worsened by commercial consumers exploiting the steep price gap between industrial diesel Rs 150 per litre and retail diesel Rs 95 per litre, which led to localised retail shortages.

Stephen Raveendra directed the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to immediately ramp up petrol and diesel supplies by 10 per cent to 15 per cent across Telangana. He instructed the companies for relentless, round-the-clock distribution operations—including Sundays and holidays—to guarantee zero fuel dry-outs during the critical Rabi harvesting season.

“Fuel supplies for harvesters and essential commodity transport are fully secured to ensure the Rabi season remains completely uninterrupted,” he said.

The department strictly prohibited ‘no stock’ boards anywhere in the State, with officials tracking outlet indents and stock levels every four hours.

“District Energy Supply Committees are actively managing the crisis, and citizens can report grievances directly to the newly activated 1967 toll-free helpline,” he added.

Fuel Supply

As of April 30, daily statewide diesel distribution has skyrocketed by 190 per cent to 21,295 kilolitres, while petrol distribution surged by 118 per cent.

The OMCs are currently pumping 34,170 kilo litres of fuel through the state’s network, representing a 158 per cent increase over the daily average, a press release said.