Government assures stable fuel supply, maritime safety amid West Asia crisis

New Delhi, March 23. Amid escalating tensions in West Asia, the government on March 23 assured that India’s energy supplies, shipping operations and citizen safety remain stable and well-managed, even as the evolving situation continues to be closely monitored through coordinated inter-ministerial efforts.

Senior officials from the Ministries of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and External Affairs briefed the media here as part of ongoing updates on the regional crisis. They outlined a series of measures aimed at ensuring uninterrupted fuel availability, safeguarding maritime operations and assisting Indian nationals in affected areas.

On the energy front, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, maintained that there is no cause for concern despite the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Refineries across the country are operating at high capacity with adequate crude inventories, while stocks of petrol, diesel and LPG remain sufficient. Domestic LPG production has also been ramped up to meet rising demand. She emphasised that there have been no instances of fuel shortages at retail outlets and urged citizens to avoid panic buying.

Natural gas supplies to priority sectors, including domestic PNG connections and CNG transport, are being fully maintained, while supplies to industrial and commercial users are being regulated. The government is also pushing for a transition from LPG to piped natural gas (PNG), with city gas distributors expanding connections and offering incentives. Over 3.5 lakh new PNG connections have already been issued in March.

LPG availability continues to be closely monitored, with no reported shortages at distributorships. The Centre has increased allocations of commercial LPG to states, prioritising essential sectors such as restaurants, community kitchens and industrial canteens. At the same time, states have been directed to enforce strict measures against hoarding and black marketing, with enforcement agencies conducting thousands of inspections and raids nationwide. In the past 24 hours alone, about 2,400 raids were carried out, leading to seizures and arrests.

Additional measures include enhanced kerosene allocation to states, promotion of alternative fuels such as coal and induction cooking, and steps to streamline approvals for expanding gas infrastructure. States and union territories have also been asked to strengthen monitoring systems, with most having already set up control rooms and district-level committees.

On the maritime front, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said the situation in the Persian Gulf remains stable, with no incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels reported in the past 24 hours. Around 22 Indian ships and 600 seafarers continue to operate in the region, all of whom are reported safe. The Directorate General of Shipping is maintaining round-the-clock monitoring and has facilitated the repatriation of over 547 Indian seafarers so far.

Indian ports are functioning normally without congestion, supported by additional storage and handling capacity created at major facilities to manage cargo flows efficiently.

The government also highlighted ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and return of Indian nationals from the region. The Ministry of External Affairs has activated control rooms and is coordinating closely with Indian missions, which are operating 24/7. Since late February, around 3.75 lakh passengers have returned to India as flight operations gradually stabilise.

Special arrangements are being made for evacuation and transit through alternative routes, including via Saudi Arabia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Indian nationals in Iran, Israel and other affected countries are being assisted with relocation, travel and consular services.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also engaged with global leaders, including Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, emphasising the need for regional stability, protection of critical infrastructure and uninterrupted maritime navigation.

Reiterating its appeal, the government urged citizens to rely on official information, avoid panic-driven actions and use resources judiciously, while assuring that all necessary steps are being taken to maintain stability during the ongoing crisis.