Fuel crisis LIVE: LPG supply to be cut off if households refuse PNG switch where available, says Centre

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Central Consumer Protection Authority directed hotels and restaurants not to levy additional charges, such as 'LPG charges' and 'fuel cost recovery', on consumers

Updated - March 26, 2026 11:07 am IST

A worker carries LPG cylinders from an Indian Oil godown, in Kolkata on Wednesday (March 25, 2026). | Photo Credit: ANI

The government has mandated that cooking gas LPG supply to households will be discontinued if consumers fail to switch to piped natural gas where such connectivity is available, under a new order aimed at accelerating gas network expansion and reducing reliance on a single fuel.

The Central Consumer Protection Authority on Wednesday (March 25, 2026) directed hotels and restaurants not to levy additional charges, such as ‘LPG charges’ and ‘fuel cost recovery’, on consumers, as these tantamount to unfair trade practices and strict action will be taken in case of violation.

The government said there is no shortage of petrol, diesel or LPG in the country, and urged citizens not to believe rumours circulating on social media or resort to panic buying. Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said all refineries are operating at high capacity with “adequate crude inventories”, while “sufficient stocks of petrol and diesel are being maintained” and retail outlets are functioning normally nationwide.

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March 26, 2026 11:07
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Addressing the levy of any forced surcharge amidst the West Asia crisis’ impact on LPG supplies, the Consumer Central Protection Authority (CCPA), in an advisory issued Tuesday (March 24, 2026), asked restaurants and hotels to not levy any unfair additional charges, such as ‘gas surcharge’, ‘fuel cost recovery’ or ‘gas crisis charge’, over and above the final price of food.
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Consumer protection watchdog directs restaurants, hotels against levying any additional ‘LPG, gas crisis charges’
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LPG supply to be cut off if households refuse PNG switch where available: Government order
The government has mandated that cooking gas LPG supply to households will be discontinued if consumers fail to switch to piped natural gas where such connectivity is available, under a new order aimed at accelerating gas network expansion and reducing reliance on a single fuel.
As India grapples with an LPG shortage due to the war in West Asia disrupting supplies from key sources, the government is pushing households and commercial users to switch to Piped Natural Gas (PNG) — a more convenient alternative that is both domestically produced and sourced through diversified supply.
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Fuel crisis: LPG supply to be cut off if households refuse PNG switch where available, says government order
Government mandates LPG supply cut-off for households not switching to available piped natural gas (PNG) within three months.